SAHIWAL, Sept 30: Proprietor of a fake travel agency and visa consultancy firm has fled allegedly after collecting Rs8.7 million from people aspiring to go abroad on work permits or study visas while victims have besieged his house-cum-office in Farid Town to retrieve their deposits.

Aslam Hayat was running Hayat Karawan and London Education Advisory firm in a rented house for the past one year. His wife and eldest son Umer also worked with him to lure people with promises of sending them abroad.

On Sept 8, Hayat along with his youngest son Hamza fled from the city. Though his family gave different reasons of his disappearance, victims started visiting the firm daily to demand their money back.

Nazir, a resident of Chak 92/6-R, told Dawn that he had given Rs125,000 to Hayat for Dubai's work visa. Sohail Rasool, of Chak 60/5-L, gave 250,000 for South African visa.

Khalid Amin and Muhammad Imran, who each gave Rs300,000 for Dubai's work visas, told Dawn that Hayat's wife also tried to flee but victims surrounding the house frustrated her effort.

Hayat's wife told Dawn on telephone that her husband was ill and was under-treatment in Karachi. She said that clients had made her and her children hostage.

Sohail, one of the victims, told Dawn that they respect females and did not want to hurt them but they want their money back.

Owner of the house told Dawn that Hayat had also defaulted on Rs40,000 rent. The owner has locked the rear exit of the house while victims have blocked the front one, leaving no room for the family to escape.

The Farid Town police have registered FIR No 372 on Sept 28 under Section 489-F against Hayat and his son Umer on the complaint of Muhammad Shafqat, with no arrest so far. Shafqat, Bilal and Abdul Jabbar had given Rs486,000 to Hayat for Cuban visas. On his failure to arrange the visas, Hayat had given Shafqat two cheques which were dishonoured subsequently.

GANG: Ghala Mandi police claim to have busted a six-member gang of thieves involved in cattle, motorcycle and tractor stealing.