SHIKARPUR, Dec 4: A police party raided Shikarpur Gymkhana and arrested eight officers and notables red handed while gambling late on Monday night.

Those arrested included Dr Zulfiqar Ali Shaikh, ADEO health, Shikarpur, Dr Khalid Ahmed Shaikh, former MS Civil Hospital Shikarpur, Dr Ali Ahmed Memon, Nazim UC-I Shikarpur and chairman district health committee, Dr Ahmed Ali Shah, Dr Zubair Ahmed Soomro, Haji Ameer Bux, Saeed Ahmed and lecturer Badaruddin Hakro.

They were lodged in police lockup for few hours and later released on bail.

Police have recovered 200 tokens of different colours, Rs15630 and four sets of cards from their possession.

Lakhi Gate police have registered a case under section 4/5 Gambling Ordinance and section 353 PPC.

According to ASP city, the report was sent to the heads of the departments concerned for departmental action against the arrested officials.

Meanwhile, the arrested ‘notables’ condemned the ASP for raiding the gymkhana.

They said that they would raise the issue with the Sindh government and appealed the governor of Sindh and the Inspector General Police to remove the concerned police official from his present position.

Senior police officials, however, maintained that the so-called notables were openly gambling in the gymkhana and converted a respectable place into a gambling den.