SARGODHA, July 9: Four photostat dealers have fraudulently minted handsome amount in just nine days by selling Qarz-i-Hasna forms to the poor people.

As per reports collected by this correspondent, photostat dealers Mehran, Sindhu, Chada and Shaheen got printed a two-page form having green and red colours. Addressed to the President of Pakistan, the application requested grant of Rs50,000 loan without interest payable in easy instalments.

The dealers reportedly sold a set of form with envelope for Rs20 to Rs30 whereas scribes also collected Rs10 to Rs20 per form. The poor people also spent Rs25 on each registered letter addressed to the presidency.

Not behind were the photographers who prepared urgent photos of the applicants. The post offices also swelled their income. Even some policemen also collected these forms and applied for their relatives.

They were confident that this special grant announced by the president under the poverty alleviation programme was sponsored by the US. This rumour spread like a wildfire all over the Sargodha district and reportedly thousands of forms were sold in this context. Exploiting the situation, the form sellers also propagated the same view.

One Muhammad Nawaz moved the court and sought help to end the menace but the judge dismissed the petition with the direction to approach the Sargodha DPO. It was learnt that the DPO directed the Cantonment police to initiate action against the form sellers. Since the form sellers have earned over Rs2 million, they are being treated by police with courtesy.

Although their stock has been 'seized' by the police, the rate of form has been increased up to Rs50 each. The photostat dealers, who were taken into custody by the police, have now been released. When contacted, the administration expressed its ignorance about any such a scheme of poverty alleviation announced by the president.