The Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court has expressed his concern over the issue of children begging on the roads of Peshawar at night. He has ordered the administration to ensure that no child is seen on the streets after 9 PM, and to take strict action against those who exploit children for begging.
The Chief Justice directed the Assistant Commissioner to coordinate with the relevant authorities to rescue and rehabilitate the children who are forced to beg at night. He said that earning a livelihood is also a daytime activity, and that children should not be deprived of their sleep, health, and education. He questioned the appropriateness of a child selling flowers at 1 AM, and said that even if accompanied by a mother, begging all night is not acceptable.
He further ordered that if children are seen begging on the streets after 9 PM, it should be mentioned in the order that the administration is also responsible. He asserted that as long as he is in office, no child should be seen on the streets after 9 PM. He said that if a child is observed at night, neither the Chief Minister nor the Chief Justice will sleep. He suggested involving the Chief Minister in this matter, and said that the government should take serious steps to address the root causes of child begging, such as poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment.
Child begging is a prevalent and alarming phenomenon in Pakistan, especially in urban areas. According to a study, there are around 1.5 million street children in Pakistan, and about 30,000 in Peshawar alone. Many of these children are addicted to drugs, and are vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and violence. Some of them are kidnapped, crippled, and traded by gangs who use them for begging. Begging is punishable by up to three years in Pakistan, but convictions are rare. In 2011, the Lahore High Court ruled that the government should strictly enforce laws to discourage “professional beggars.”