A video from Rahwali, Gujranwala, has gone viral on social media, which was initially claimed to be a lavish memorial event funded by beggars. However, this portrayal has been contested, revealing a deeper narrative about the Kangra community involved in the event.
Shared by Pakistan Tourism, the viral footage was believed to show beggars in Gujranwala Cantonment spending over 125 million rupees on a 40th-day memorial for a deceased mother. The event reportedly attracted 800 participants nationwide and featured luxurious meals, including breakfast with “Siri paye” and dinner with over 250 goats.
Muhammad Arif, a retired army official, commented on the improbability of such expenditure in a country reliant on IMF loans, humorously suggesting that future loans could be solicited from these supposedly affluent beggars rather than international institutions.
لو جی IMF سے چلنے والے ملک میں
گوجرانوالہ ریلوے اسٹیشن کے قریب بھیک مانگنے والوں نے اپنی والدہ کے 40ویں پر سوا کروڑ روپے خرچ کر دیے 12 ہزار مختلف ملک کے علاقوں میں رہنے والے بھیک مانگنے والوں کو تقریب میں دعوت دی گئی. تقریب میں مہمانوں کو صبح ناشتے میں سری پائے والدہ سری پائے… pic.twitter.com/n5KRai4V8L
— Muhammad Arif (@ArifRetd) November 17, 2024Contradicting this sensational claim, another journalist, Amjad Hussian Bukhari, clarified that the video misrepresented the Kangra community. This community is politically active and financially stable, with significant real estate and business interests across prominent sectors of Islamabad, including G-7 and Bahria Town.
Bukhari explained that the community had gathered not only to commemorate a deceased elder but also to celebrate the appointment of Haji Latif as a community leader.
سوشل میڈیا کی ایک اور غلط خبر جس کا شکار مین اسٹریم میڈیا ہوا
کل سے میڈیا اور سوشل میڈیا پر گوجرانوالہ کے بھکاریوں کی نانی کے چہلم کی خبریں سامنے آئیں، جیو سے لیکر گجومتہ اپ ڈیٹس تک سب نے یہ ویڈیوز شئیر کی ہیں۔ اب حقائق یہ ہیں کہ ملک بھر کی کنگرا برداری نے حاجی لطیف کو برداری… pic.twitter.com/QccMsQNM8H
— Amjad Hussain Bukhari (@AmjadHBokhari) November 17, 2024The journalist also criticized the local media for inaccurately labelling a well-to-do family as beggars, noting their connections to prominent political figures and their active participation in community support and political activities.
The narrative correction emphasizes the importance of verifying information before dissemination, especially regarding community representation and socio-economic status. Far from the portrayed impoverishment, the Kangra community exhibits significant solidarity and socio-economic involvement in their localities.=
