Beggars and suspicious persons crowded mosques in Pakistan's major cities posing serious security threats to mosque-goers, according to local media reports.
The city police in the federal capital of Islamabad and the garrison city of Rawalpindi had made tall claims of tight security in and around worship places in Ramazan and strict action against beggars because they had become a security threat.
But on the ground, Xinhua reporters have witnessed that the number of beggars is rising outside prominent mosques and imam bargahs in Islamabad during the first week of the holy month of Ramazan starting from Aug. 23.
Citizens complain that the police did not cooperate with mosques and peace committees to ensure the implementation of foolproof security plans in Ramazan, the local newspaper Daily Times said. They said the police ignored even if they pointed out beggars and suspicious persons near mosque. Some suspicious people also gather there, in dirty clothes. They don't beg but just stay and look around.
A resident of Jinnah Road in Rawalpindi said beggars were posing security threats to worshipers and almost blocked main entrance to the mosque. He said the police in collaboration with peace committees should take action against them before any mishap.
Another said rising number of beggars in Ramazan outside mosque was creating fear among citizens. He said people were already offering their religious rituals under fear due to current law and order situation.
A police spokesperson in Islamabad, said the city police had strictly directed all filed officers to take extra measures to ensure security in and around worship places.
He said police and other law enforcement agencies had launched a massive crackdown on beggars.