Karachi woman allegedly involved in scam of Rs420 million approaches court for ‘protection’
A Karachi based social media influencer, involved in an alleged ballot committee (BC) scam of Rs420 million, approached a sessions court seeking protection against harassment.
The Sessions Court issued a notice to the SSP-complaint cell and SHO Sharah-e-Faisal on the application of a woman named Sidra Khalil Humaid and directed them to submit their response by December 14.
Sidra has approached the court for protection against harassment by several people who have accused her of embezzling huge sums of money in the name of ballot committee (BC).
Petitioner’s lawyer Kamran Alam said that his client was being accused of an online financial scam despite the fact she neither sold any products nor issued any advertisement on any online platform.
He said that this was a traditional way of collecting money from different people and then returned to the parties on their turn.
The lawyer furthered that Sidra had only told the parties, involved in the BC, on social media that they should not panic as their money would be returned in the coming months.
“Such an announcement on social media does not lie in the category of online fraud,” lawyer said.
Advocate Alam added that many people were coming to the woman’s house, harassing and abusing her, demanding their money.
The case:
Sidra Humaid, owner of a home-based food business, is alleged to have defrauded hundreds of her depositors by announcing on social media that she had “no means to pay off her committees” to around 200 people.
Since last week, social media is abuzz with stories of victims of what many described as a Ponzi scheme. Many victims reached out to each other and formed WhatsApp groups to take action against Sidra Humaid.
