Staff Report
KARACHI: A Karachi-based social media influencer and businesswoman named Sidra Humaid who allegedly looted around Rs 42 crores from poor people, mostly women, through the monthly ‘ballot committee’ system has now sought protection from court after being hounded by her creditors.
Sidra Humaid looking For Court Protection
Sidra Humaid had recently posted online that she had defaulted on paying out committees to the tune of Rs 420 million. She said that she was being hounded by ‘thugs’ demanding money and she was also receiving ‘threats. On Tuesday, she posted on a social media platform Facebook a copy of a court notice to the District East SSP, to provide her with protection.
Sidra Humaid cheated hundreds of her depositors by declaring a long post on social media. She says she no longer has the money to pay the committee, and her committee members are shocked to hear the news.
Since last week, Pakistan’s social media has been filled with stories of victims; some people are describing it as a Ponzi scheme, meanwhile many victims contacted each other. And some people have also created a WhatsApp group to take action against Sidra Humaid.
Looking at the post on social media, however, it appears that no one has attempted to address the issue on their own, nor has anyone approached the police or federal investigative agency against Ms. Humaid.
One of her victims, named Hiba, wrote in a comment in the Facebook group ‘’Soul Sisters Pakistan’’,
‘’I am a victim of her scam also. She hasn’t been responding to my calls or texts, or voice messages. There’s a frenzy in the groups. Everyone is so confused and whatnot; such a big amount is at stake, and she is completely ghosting me. I honestly don’t know how to recover my amount now.’’
Social media platforms
Some users showed their anger on different social media platforms and asked why no one was taking action against her; a social media user wrote on Facebook,
‘’It was a kind of a Ponzi scheme, and it’s so heartbreaking that people in need were naive and desperate enough to trust someone with their money. What I don’t understand is why everyone hasn’t gotten together to take legal action against her.’’
Her victims have alleged her that in recent months, she used to flaunt her luxury items such as expensive watches, mobiles, purses, and shoes. According to them, this explains where all the money went because no one can make such money by selling food and handicrafts.
