In a major breakthrough, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has apprehended two high-profile suspects, Shamshad Baladi and Lagmir Baladi, involved in a multi-billion rupee fraud network. The suspects were wanted in multiple cities, including Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan, for their role in defrauding people through fake car, housing, and loan schemes.

Operating under the guise of companies like SG Enterprises and Fort Season Alliance Limited, the network established offices across Pakistan, conning individuals by promising lucrative returns. The fraud extended into billions of rupees, exploiting gaps in financial regulations, particularly in Sindh and Punjab.

Investigations revealed that the entire Baladi family was involved in the operation, frequently changing their identities to avoid detection. The scandal also exposed a startling fact: one of the key suspects, Nihal Baladi, was orchestrating the network from behind bars. Despite being incarcerated in Landhi Jail, he continued to operate the network, benefiting from lax oversight and bribes to prison officials. He was reportedly taken to his home by jail authorities during court trips, where he met his family and continued running his operations.

CTD officials discovered that prison officials, including a jail supervisor named Dushan Jadoon, were being paid hefty bribes, around PKR 250,000 weekly, to facilitate the gang’s operations. The fraudsters also had access to internet facilities in jail, allowing them to continue their activities.

The CTD’s Cybergram Unit played a critical role in uncovering the network. Authorities are now interrogating the suspects further, with new revelations expected to emerge. The group had previously been involved in a major National Accountability Bureau (NAB) case and had negotiated plea bargains in some fraud cases but continued their operations.

The investigation is ongoing, with efforts to trace other members of the network and recover the stolen billions.