Taliban Justice Minister Accused of Seizing Khost Market Despite Court Orders

Jamil, the owner of Chami market in Khost province, claims Taliban Justice Minister Abdul Hakim Shar'i has seized the property despite legal documents confirming his ownership. Jamil states his father purchased the land, which has been registered with the municipality since the republic era, and taxes have been paid regularly, with records from banks and the municipality verifying this.

According to documents reviewed by Afghanistan International, in solar year 1402, Shar'i ordered shopkeepers at the four-story market to stop paying rent to Jamil and instead deposit it into a specific bank account created on his instructions. The Khost Taliban municipality sent a letter to judicial bodies confirming the market's legality.

Jamil filed a complaint with Mullah Hibatullah's office in Kandahar, which referred it to the special court for reclaiming usurped lands. The court's head stamped and signed a letter to the anti-usurpation commission, stating it must act per Hibatullah's order. However, when Jamil presented this to Shar'i's office, the minister's secretary said no documents from any entity would be accepted.

Jamil reports receiving warnings from Shar'i's office that further pursuit could lead to imprisonment. He told Afghanistan International he does not know where to seek justice when the justice minister ignores rulings from Hibatullah and Taliban courts.

Other traders and landowners accuse Shar'i of extortion under the pretext of reclaiming usurped lands. Additional allegations claim he has allocated lands as bribes to family members, including illegally giving the Katoazi market to relatives. Shar'i previously stated in an interview that complaints should go to the anti-usurpation commission.

Mullah Hibatullah recently issued a decree limiting complaints against the commission to the special court only, active in Kabul, Balkh, Herat, and Kandahar.