GUJRAT, April 13: Arrest of Syed Sibtul Hasan, alias Double Shah, by Wazirabad police on Friday sent shock waves among his clients. Double Shah had attracted depositors, whose number is stated to be over 3,000, from Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat and other neighbouring districts during the last one year.

This correspondent visited Ghakhar model police station where the accused along with his guard was lodged after his arrest on Friday. The police station had been surrounded by nearly 2,000 people stated to be Shah’s clients.

Intizar Hussain, who introduced himself as a nephew of Shah, told Dawn that the arrest of a “committed man” like his uncle had shattered the dreams of thousands of people. He said that the police and other law enforcers had lodged fake cases against his uncle and arrested him despite the fact that not a single of his clients had any complaint against him. He said a heavy contingent of law enforcers conducted a raid at their house in Allahabad, Wazirabad, from where they arrested Shah.

He said that Shah had always refunded money to his clients in time. People this correspondent talked to were concerned over the fate of their deposits.

Information gathered by Dawn through various sources revealed that Shah had amassed huge assets in the country and at Dubai during the last one year. Sources said that besides hotels, Shah ran a number of casinos in Dubai and 17 petrol and CNG stations in different parts of Punjab.