Lieutenant-General Akhtar Abdul Rehman, who headed Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, during the Cold War in the 80s, was among 1400 Pakistani nationals who held funds in a major Swiss investment banking firm, leaked banking data showed. Politicians, generals, and their relatives are among those holding over 600 accounts in the firm.  

Leaked data from Credit Suisse, a Swiss investment banking firm, showed that the ex-ISI chief, General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan, was holding two accounts, one in his own name and another jointly in the names of his three sons.  

As a trusted aid of former military dictator General Zia ul Haq, Akhtar played a key role in organizing Afghan Mujahidin resistance leaders and funneling billions of dollars that the US and Saudi Arabia gave to bleed Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 80s. 

"The end recipient in the process was Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence group (ISI), [at the time] led by Akhtar," says a report published by New York Times.   

Dawn reports several politicians in the leaked data didn't mention these accounts to the Election Commission of Pakistan in their assets declaration when they were holding public offices. Earlier in January, Pakistan ranked 140 out of 180 on Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2021 by Transparency International, slliding 16 spots over the previous year.

Earlier, several politicians and generals were also named in the Panama papers. However, little action was taken against the people related to the country’s powerful military. 

(SAM)