Following the bomb blast in Ghas Mandi, the site of the bombing that killed at least 18 on Thursday, police high-ups suspended a DSP and an SHO of the area, but this was done to create an impression that the police had ‘done something.’
In reality, the protagonist of the gambling business in Karachi, Sub-Inspector (SI) Waseem, has not been arrested thus far as he collects extortion money and bribes from the den owners, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Ghas Mandi is one of South Asia’s biggest gambling spots, if not the largest: more than 5,000 gambling den owners operate their businesses away from the legal eye but with the blessings of government and law enforcement agencies’ high-ups.
The second largest gambling spot is said to be situated in Sri Lanka, where six to seven different games are played. But Ghas Mandi offers 11 different kinds of games: those fond of gambling can play Chakri, Naal Wali Chakri, Roulette, Chaka, and other games.
There are some eight Charkhi books, four Chakay books, two Roulettes and 30 books of other games, all wired with South African gamblers. More than 200 bookies also run their books for placing wagers on cricket matches in this area. Most gamblers in Ghas Mandi have rented out houses and apartments, paying as much as five times the original rent for space.
“A house or an apartment in the area can be rented out for at least Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000; gamblers pay more than Rs 20,000 for renting out the same property,” sources told Pakistan Today. “Ghas Mandi alone provides Rs 250 million per month to Sub-Inspector Waseem, who has been nominated by the police to liaise with gambling den owners as well as with different criminal groups associated with political parties.
In extorting money from Ghas Mandi alone, the police generate at least Rs 10 million and up to Rs 100 million every month,” sources said.
