The widow of a man from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, who tragically took his own life due to threats and blackmail by employees of predatory mobile loan apps, is appealing for justice. In July, Mohammad Masood, 42, committed suicide because of the mounting interest on his debts that he was unable to repay.
In response to this incident, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of nine suspects and the booking of 19 others. The public outcry following this tragedy shed light on the dire situation faced by financially vulnerable individuals.
In an effort to address this issue, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked 43 unlicensed lending apps, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) advised borrowers to verify the legal status of such apps before obtaining loans. Furthermore, Google and Apple removed 120 illegal loan apps from their platforms, and Google introduced Pakistan’s Personal Loan App Policy, allowing only SECP-approved personal loan apps on the Play Store.
Today, Mrs. Masood, the widow of the deceased, released a video statement urging the FIA and the courts not to show weakness and ensure justice. Despite her financial limitations, she pleaded for support from the honorable courts and the FIA. She emphasized that regardless of the suspects’ power, justice should be pursued, considering her status as a widow and a Pakistani daughter.
Mrs. Masood appealed to the media, judiciary, and FIA, demanding the strictest actions against the suspects and a complete ban on their companies. Her hope is to prevent hundreds of thousands of others from falling into the same traps and resorting to suicide.
Mrs. Masood stated, “I hope that all the institutions will support me and help me in getting justice. I want justice. And if I do not get justice, all these institutions that are not supporting me today will be responsible for my suicide as well.”
In the meantime, a Rawalpindi sessions court extended the interim bail of the nine suspects involved in Masood’s blackmail until August 30. The court urged all parties to come prepared for the next hearing and warned against further adjournments. The widow’s legal representation, Advocate Syed Masoodul Hasan Shah and Advocate Najaf Shah, submitted their Power of Attorney documents, stating they will represent her pro bono.
It is imperative that justice is served in this tragic case to prevent further loss of life due to the exploitative practices of loan apps. The widow’s plea for support from the media, judiciary, and FIA should be heard, and decisive actions should be taken against the suspects and their companies to protect countless individuals from falling victim to their schemes.