Most of the members of Bhatta Mafia belong to extremist political activist groups. They visit every head of department asking for contribution to organise meetings, providing necessities to their comrades in jail or organising a procession of their colleagues for releasing from jail.
When this scribe visited the office of a Deputy Director heading a public utility regional department he found that the office front door was closed. Later, he was guided by a peon to the Deputy Director through 'back door'. On inquiry, the DD said that he was sick of those who called themselves comrades and, without permission, enter his office to demand contribution on one or the other pretext.
He said it was for this reason he had closed the front door so that he could performed his official duties peacefully.
He was forced to close the front door because of frequent visits political activists demanding money for one or the other reason with threatening posture.
Another head of the department was having the same complaint. One head of department told Business Recorder that these elements are out to extort money with threatening posture under various pretexts, mostly in the name of donation to unfetter the oppressed masses of Sindh from social economic subjugation.
When contacted, a member of nationalist political group said that they were out to make communities aware that everyone has vital contribution to make. He said that communities prosper only when the citizens contribute to those who are fighting for their cause--such as construction of Kalabagh Dam, language, quota system etc.
The industrial sector has also recorded its complain against the Bhatta mafia at industrial facility board apprehending that it would deter the industrialisation in the province.
A former vice-chancellor of Sindh University, commenting on the delay in construction of new blocks at the campus, said the delay was due to the fact that the Bhatta Mafia had demanded huge money for 'protection' of building contractor's labour, with the result that construction had been stopped.
The modern Messiahs, having political leverage, are reaping rich dividends flouting the law against extortion of money.