University students arrested over a National Bank robbery in Uthal

A National Bank robbery in Uthal has led police to three university students. Investigators say a suspected gang, described as inspired by Netflix's Money Heist, took approximately Rs 20.2 crore from a National Bank of Pakistan branch in Lasbela in February 2025. The case was first reported from Quetta.

How the National Bank robbery was planned

What first looked like a possible militant raid later pointed to educated young men who were reportedly university classmates, childhood friends and relatives. Police named the alleged mastermind as Zohaib. His suspected accomplices, Ghulam Murtaza and Bilal Akram, have also been arrested. Two other suspects, Jawad and Hameed, also referred to in some accounts as Bilal Hameed, are still at large.

Investigators say Zohaib drew up the plan after watching productions and was fascinated by the fictional mastermind known as "The Professor" in the Spanish series. He reportedly pictured himself in that role. To carry the plan out, the suspects allegedly got a red Toyota Surf, had it repainted black, and arranged counterfeit Frontier Corps uniforms so they could pass as security personnel. Investigators say those fake uniforms were ordered online from abroad.

The armed robbery took place on a February morning in 2025, between about 8:30 am and 9:00 am. The suspects stormed the National Bank branch in Uthal and left with approximately Rs 20.2 crore. Reports of the same case also describe it as an Rs 20 crore robbery.

The chase and the officer who was shot

Local police reportedly chased the fleeing suspects for nearly 15 kilometres and confronted them in a remote wooded area. Instead of surrendering, the armed men allegedly opened fire on the pursuing officer. Yar Muhammad suffered two bullet wounds, one of them close to his eye, and later lost the sight in that eye.

The suspects then reportedly burned the getaway vehicle to destroy evidence and escaped into the surrounding mountains. The shooting and the organised escape first raised the suspicion that members of a banned militant organisation were involved. The inquiry later moved in a different direction.

Where investigators say the money went

The break came from bank transactions. Police found that Zohaib's account, which had held only a few thousand rupees, suddenly showed transactions of more than Rs 170 million after the robbery. About Rs 30 million was also traced to the account of a local businessman named Krishna, reportedly for Easypaisa and other transfers. Krishna later gave a statement to investigators.

Police suspect a large share of the stolen money was put into businesses and costly assets rather than kept as cash. The suspected investments include a petrol station, public transport operations and luxury vehicles. Items police say were bought with the stolen money and then seized include two Honda Civic cars, a cargo rickshaw, a Unique motorcycle, mobile phones and a large quantity of weapons. Counterfeit Frontier Corps uniforms, believed to have been used in the raid, were also recovered.

Who the students are

Police say Zohaib and Ghulam Murtaza were fourth-semester students at Lasbela University in Uthal. Bilal Akram had completed a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2025. The suspects, reportedly aged 24 to 26, are from Kalat district. Bilal Akram and Murtaza were Zohaib's cousins. The two men still at large were childhood friends and former university associates.

Police believe the five used those close ties to plan the robbery and to hide what they are accused of doing. Investigators are also checking whether Zohaib's brother, or anyone else, helped conceal, move or invest the stolen money. That part is still a question, not a finding. The search for the two remaining suspects, and for the money still missing, is continuing.

Our verdict

Three university students are under arrest over a National Bank robbery in Uthal that investigators put at about Rs 20.2 crore. Police say the suspected plan borrowed from Money Heist, two accused men are still free, and a large part of the money is still being traced.

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