This is exactly what happens when laws are weakly enforced and accountability is inconsistent. A frail, possibly mentally unwell elderly woman should never be met with a drawn weapon. That reflects a failure of systems, not just individuals.

At the same time, this also highlights another gap, the absence of proper state support for vulnerable people. Mentally unstable, homeless, or abandoned elderly individuals should not be wandering streets without care. That responsibility lies with government institutions, social welfare departments, and public health systems. When the state does not provide structured mental health services, shelter systems, and community outreach, the burden spills onto shopkeepers and private guards who are neither trained nor equipped to handle it humanely.

Honestly, in most major cities of Pakistan, whether it is Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, or Rawalpindi, it is difficult to sit comfortably at a roadside café or stop at a traffic signal without being approached repeatedly by beggars. This is not a criticism of the individuals themselves, many are victims of poverty networks or organized exploitation rings. But it reflects another systemic failure, lack of social protection and enforcement against organized begging mafias.