KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Thursday directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to refund (unfreeze) the ‘unclaimed’ money deposited in a private bank by slain Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in order to start the process of transferring the funds to the government treasury.

The Taliban leader was killed in a US drone attack in 2016.

The judge of the ATC-II issued this direction on a request made by the relevant officials at the Allied Bank Limited, Quetta branch, seeking the court’s direction for refund of the money lying in the slain Afghan Taliban leader’s account, which had been frozen on the court’s order.

The judge was hearing a case against Mullah Akhtar Mansour, alias Mohammad Wali, alias Gul Mohammad and his two alleged absconding accomplices — Akhtar Mohammad and Amaar — regarding generating funds through purchase and sale of properties in Karachi using fake identities to fund terrorist activities in the country.

The Federal Investigation Agency had lodged a case under relevant sections of the law in July 2019.

On Thursday, assistant attorney general Waseem Akhtar, who has been appointed as special public prosecutor in the case by the federal government, appeared along with investigating officer Rehmatullah Domki and additional director (legal) of the FIA’s counter-terrorism wing Khalid Hussain Sheikh.

During the hearing, Syed Samiullah, tehsildar of district Quetta and Sheharyar, tehsildar (of Shah Alam) district Peshawar also appeared before the court in response to non-bailable warrants issued for their arrest by the court.

Both the revenue officers submitted their respective reports, as ordered by the court under Section 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) regarding seizure of the property, if any, owned by the Taliban leader and his accomplices in both provinces.

In the reports, the officials mentioned that no properties were found in the name of Mullah Mansour and his absconding accomplices in both the provinces.

Samiullah also submitted reply to a show-cause notice issued to him by the court, offering an unconditional apology to the court for not appearing before it.

The judge accepted his apology with a caution that the officer would work seriously and attend the issues.

Sheharyar also submitted a reply to the show-cause notice issued to him by the court and requested for release of his salary.

The judge ordered the authorities concerned to release his salary.

IO Domki requested for next date for recording his statement of oath. Allowing the request, the judge fixed the matter on Feb 23 for recording his statement regarding compliance with the court’s directives for proclamation of the absconding suspects and attachment of their properties.

In response to a letter sent by the court, officials at the Allied Bank Limited’s Satellite Town Branch in Quetta sent an information copy seeking a direction for the director, banking conduct and customer protection department of the SBP to refund unclaimed money deposited in the bank account by Mullah Akhtar Mansour, alias Gul Mohammad. The judge directed the office to write a letter to the SBP with direction to release the unclaimed amount lying in the bank account of Mullah Mansour. The judge also directed the banks to submit compliance reports.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2021