by Muhammad Amir Ali

VEHARI The police failed to stop gambling over the matches of ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup across the district, The Nation learnt. During a survey conducted this correspondent here, residents of different areas of the Vehari City complained that gambling has been going on overtly even in the streets on the matches of T20 World Cup. They questioned that despite tall claims, the police failed to take any action against the gamblers. They said that it is a big challenge for the newly-posted DPO Ghazi Salah Uddin because gamblers have a well-organised network across the district and are allegedly being patronised by the police officials as well as politicians. Police sources told The Nation that gamblers are not alone in gambling. “Some political figures are also involved in this racket,” they claimed.

The sources informed that police officials and lower staffers like constables are on the ‘payroll’ of gamblers and have shares in their gambling network. “These gambling parties also have influential people from business sector, government departments and politics who act as patrons,” the sources went on to say, adding that these gamblers run a very complicated network and its dismantling requires “steeled-will.”
Lawyers, traders, social activists and citizens protest against the activities of gamblers and the police indifference towards their activities. They claimed that they are advised to be patient whenever they contact the officials concerned. They urged the Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab IG Police and the Multan RPO to take notice of the police inefficiency and order stringent measures to rooting up the menace of gambling.