PESHAWAR (Kashmir English): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has proposed a new comprehensive law that aims to remove all begging from the province by introducing severe criminal punishments and rehabilitation programs.
The assembly session commenced after a two-hour delay because Presiding Officer Idris Khattak began the session, and Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam delivered the Vagrancy Act 2026 proposal to the assembly.
The legislation is intended to be implemented across the entire province and focuses on curbing professional begging through strict enforcement and social welfare interventions.
The proposed law establishes a provincial steering committee that will manage all activities related to anti-begging operations. The committee will have the power to recommend that national identity cards and passports be blocked for people who engage in professional begging.
The bill introduces a graded punishment system. First-time offenders will receive either a warning or a maximum prison sentence of one month. Repeat offenders could receive up to one year in jail, while those involved in fraudulent begging may face up to two years’ imprisonment.
Organized begging groups could be punished with up to three years in prison. The legislation establishes strict punishments for people who exploit children, which can result in fines reaching up to Rs. 400,000.
The law gives police and social welfare officials the power to arrest people without warrants, but mandates that police must present all detainees to a special magistrate within 24 hours.
Courts will also be given the option to send offenders to rehabilitation centers instead of imprisonment. These centers will provide vocational training and psychological support to help reintegrate individuals into society.
A beggar who collected millions by begging in English dies
Earlier, a Muzaffargarh man who got fame by begging in English died in a traffic accident, leaving millions of bank balance behind.
Shaukat was the richest beggar of the area and was famous for begging uniquely.
The accident occurred near the village Jhingar Marha when Shaukat was riding his motorcycle and collided with a loader rickshaw. According to rescue sources, he died on the spot.
Shaukat was famous on the roads of Muzaffargarh and Multan for his unique style of begging in Urdu and English.
He often not only informed people about his “art” of begging but also proudly mentioned the millions of rupees in his bank account and showed bank statements.
Shaukat used to say that he always asked for only one rupee, and when people didn’t have one rupee, they would give him a 10-rupee note.
Less like a beggar!
Due to this clever strategy, he appeared less like a beggar and more like a “self-branded expert in the art of begging.”
According to residents, Shaukat was a resident of Shah Jamal, a father of three. He not only had a bank balance but also owned several acres of agricultural land.
