KARACHI: In his confessional statement recorded by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), Jalal Lund, a hardened criminal from Ghotki district and supporter of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), said he had bought his freedom after giving Rs3.5 million bribe to the Karachi Police.
Carrying Rs1 million head money for his involvement in 22 different cases of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping for ransom, dacoity, extortion and sheltering militants of the banned BLA and others, Lund was arrested by the Ghotki Police on May 18 this year along with his associate Rajab Lund.
Lund revealed many interesting facts including his earlier arrest and then release by the Karachi Police. According to Lund, he was arrested three years back from Karachi’s Liaquat National Hospital area but he bought his freedom after giving Rs3.5 million to the police.
Interestingly, the Karachi Police not only released him, but also told him about the informer.
After his release, Jalal Lund brought the matter into the knowledge of his supporter, an influential person in South Punjab, who in a private Jirga fined the informer Rs3.5 million which Jalal Lund had paid to the Karachi Police. The informer paid the money to Jalal Lund, says the JIT report.
According to the confessional statement, Jalal Lund remained a close associate of Baloch separatist leader Brahamdagh Bugti and on his directions provided shelter to the BLA militants, received extortion from oil companies of Ghotki district, murdered many police officials in encounters, kidnapped many persons for ransom, took active part in tribal disputes, killed many innocent people of rival Shar and Pitafi tribes and committed many heinous crimes in Sindh and bordering areas of Punjab.
At least, 22 cases were registered against him by various police stations of Sindh and the Punjab. Talking to The News, SSP Ghotki Masood Bangash confirmed the admissions of Jalal Lund and said the wanted criminals was arrested due to the hard work of his team.
He further said Ghotki district remained a haven of criminals and terrorists in the past but within three months of his posting his team arrested 362 proclaimed offenders, 891 absconders, eight notified criminals and recovered 14 Kalashnikovs, 33 pistols, two hand grenades, 900 bottles of wine and 220 kg charas.
