Court in Karachi dismissed a petition filed for a dispute of lucrative area for bagging
Report : Faizan Latif
An Additional Sessions Court of Karachi West dismissed a petition regarding territorial dispute between two groups of beggars.
Sohail Ahmad Mashori Additional Sessions Judge in his judgment in a case of Petitioner Mst. Ameer Khatoon versus Shafi Muhammad and three others has while dismissing, shedding the light on the complex dynamics of territorial disputes among panhandlers.
The court’s decision came after a police report revealed that the dispute stemmed from rivalries over prime locations for panhandling rather than traditional property disputes.
The petitioner a begger alleged harassment by the proposed accused, prompting the filing of an FIR against her rival begger group.
Judgment added that “however, upon investigation and as per police report, it was revealed that both parties were engaged in the age-old profession of begging, with the dispute revolving around territory in densely populated urban areas”.
While expressing sympathy for the struggles faced by individuals compelled to beg for survival, the court emphasized the limitations imposed by current legal frameworks, which do not recognize begging as a legitimate claim to territory.
In delivering the verdict, the court underscored the need for societal reform to address the underlying issues that force individuals into such disputes over meager resources. The ruling, while dismissing the case, carries a poignant recommendation for authorities to approach the issue with compassion and seek solutions that uplift all members of society.
The judgment serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by marginalized communities and calls for a concerted effort to ensure peace and prosperity for all, beyond the confines of contested concrete patches.