KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Friday refused to hold an urgent debate on the issue of beggary after rejecting an adjournment motion on beggars’ presence at traffic signals in the city.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) member Aamir Siddiqui had moved the motion, highlighting the large number of beggars at Karachi’s traffic signals and calling for strict legal action against them.

However, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar opposed it and argued that it was not a matter of immediate urgency.

Chairing the session, Panel of Chairpersons member Rehana Laghari upheld the objection and rejected the adjournment motion, terming it out of order.

Mr Siddiqui alleged that most of the beggars in the city were part of an “organised system” and were involved in criminal activities, including the snatching of mobile phones from citizens. Therefore, he called for strict legal action against them.

He said that apart from a security concern, the presence of beggars at traffic signals had also become a significant public nuisance that the provincial administration must address urgently.

Earlier, the session began with members paying tribute to and offering fateha for soldiers who were martyred during “Maarka-i-Haq” in May 2025.

The law and parliamentary affairs minister presented the Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishments Amendment Bill, which was referred to the relevant standing committee for further review.

The house passed the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Bill.

The Sindh Human Rights Protection Bill was also presented in the house.

Mr Lanjar said judges would be included in the Sindh Human Rights Commission, and added that the age limit in the bill had been raised, and the number of Sindh Assembly members on the commission would increase from two to three.

After a brief session, the chair adjourned the house until Monday.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026