NGO allegedly defrauds farmers of millions of rupees in Sindh

Ikhlas Welfare Society member proposed petitioner to find buyers for solar tube wells

HYDERABAD: A non-governmental organisation has allegedly defrauded farmers of millions of rupees by offering to sell them solar tube wells. In a petition filed by a mechanic of the solar system, who claimed to have been used by the NGO to hunt prospective buyers, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has put the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the NGO and other respondents on notice.

Badin’s farmers approach SHC over acute water shortage

According to the petitioner, Saleemuddin, a resident of Tando Allahyar district, Muhammad Saad Farooqui of Dera Ismail Khan, affiliated with Ikhlas Welfare Society approached him with the proposal to find buyers for solar systems in Sindh. He told him that the solar tube wells for the agriculture sector will be partially funded under a Turkish government's project.

Saleemuddin was also offered Rs30,000 monthly salary if he brought buyers for Farooqui. The petitioner arranged meetings of Farooqui with many farmers, of whom 21 paid Rs560,000 each as security deposit for the solar tube wells. A sum of Rs12.6 million was deposited in Farooqui's account by the buyers on behalf of Saleemuddin in July and August 2018.

Once the amount was deposited, Farooqui began to dawdle in the installation of the systems and later vanished, according to the petitioner. Following his disappearance, Saleemuddin was left to deal with the enraged buyers who felt cheated by the petitioner. He claimed that he has since been facing threats and that he has also survived a kidnapping bid as well.

Wheat Scam: Two escape from court after bail pleas rejected in Hyderabad

Subsequently, the petitioner complained to the FIA to investigate the fraud and recover the amount. But he complained before the court that the agency has made no headway in the probe and prayed the SHC to order the FIA to investigate the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2019.