Mahjabeen, 10, and her six year old brother beg because their Gardner father only earns Rs. 60 (US .30) which is not enough to support their eight member family. If Mahjabeen and her little brother stop begging, the entire family will go hungry.
Gul Zaman, 11, begs because his uncle forced him into begging after his father's death. Niaz Ali, Gul Zaman's 9 year old cousin also begs along with him because he needs to buy medicines for his mother who is suffering from tuberculosis.
The only rehabilitation center for these children closed a long time back and the only answer that the Director of the Social Welfare Department, Zarina Imdad has for these children, is that the government is looking into the matter.
Begging is today a malicious institution which thrives with links to high placed politicians and the mafia through local contractors in which children are used as pawns. [Reported in Dawn]