LAHORE: The Punjab home department has decided to launch a crackdown on organised begging that is not only causing deterioration of law and order, but also a factor in the surging criminal activity in the province.

The home department has moved a draft bill to the chief minister’s office, proposing enhancement of punishment in the Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance 1958 to check the organised begging in the province.

The department is awaiting the chief minister’s nod to get the draft bill through the cabinet standing committee on legislative business and eventually the provincial cabinet.

It is learnt that the amendment bill proposes up to 10-year imprisonment for the gang leaders of the beggar mafia, who are allegedly involved in rendering children disabled, exploiting the elderly persons, including women, and forcing them to beg on city roads.

Forced begging to be categorised as non-bailable offense

In addition to the prison term, the offenders will face a hefty fine of Rs2 million and in case of non-payment of fine, they will have to serve an additional three-year imprisonment.

The home department has already arranged and identified barracks in different jails in the province for the beggars’ gang leaders.

A home department spokesman says the forced begging will be categorised as a non-bailable offense under the new law to ensure that the perpetrators remain in custody and face trial without the possibility of bail, reflecting the government’s zero-tolerance policy on the issue.

Speaking to Dawn, home secretary Noorul Amin Mengal said there was no specific legal framework to punish the leaders of these gangs and added that the new measures would significantly curb the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

“This legislation is a crucial step towards delivering justice to the victims and dismantling the beggar mafia,” Mr Mengal asserted.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024