Mirza Shehzad Akbar: Imran Khan's close aide and former accountability advisor, Mirza Shehzad Akbar, was attacked by masked assailants near his home in Cambridge, UK.

Mirza Shehzad Akbar: Mirza Shehzad Akbar, a close aide of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his accountability advisor during his tenure, has been attacked in Britain. The attack took place near his home in Cambridge, UK, where masked assailants suddenly attacked him. Akbar was punched several times in the face, breaking his nose in two places and causing a hairline fracture in his jaw. Seriously injured, Akbar has been admitted to the hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly condemned the attack, calling it a well-planned attack. According to the party, the attacker was wearing a mask, gloves, and an overcoat, indicating a pre-planned attack. The PTI claims that the attack was carried out at the behest of Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, as Mirza Shahzad Akbar has long been a vocal critic of him.

Attack after viral speech

This attack comes at a time when a recent speech by Akbar is rapidly going viral on social media. During a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, Akbar launched a scathing attack on Army Chief Asim Munir. In his speech, he stated that Munir has been running Pakistan through fear and terror for the past three and a half years. Akbar alleged that "our homes have been attacked, our family members and leaders have been kidnapped, and all kinds of atrocities have been committed to intimidate us."

He said that if these attempts to spread fear had been successful, people would not be on the streets in large numbers today, and Imran Khan's sisters would not be protesting outside Adiala Jail. This means that the fear mongers have failed. Akbar sarcastically remarked that the real fear now lies in the person who still wears a bulletproof vest under his military uniform. PTI says that this speech was the reason for the attack and is calling it a continuation of the ongoing repression against critics. The party has demanded a fair and thorough investigation by the British police.

Extradition attempts and past cases

Mirza Shahzad Akbar has been living in self-exile in the UK since the fall of Imran Khan's government in 2022. The Pakistani government considers him an accused in several cases, and efforts to extradite him have recently intensified. In December, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi handed over extradition documents to British authorities. These include cases involving the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other investigative agencies. A Pakistani court has also declared Akbar a fugitive.

The attack happened for the second time.

This is the second attack on Mirza Shahzad Akbar in Britain. Previously, in 2023, he was attacked with acid at his home in Hertfordshire, leaving him with severe burns to his face, head, and hands. At that time, Akbar had blamed the Pakistani government, although British police later dropped the investigation.

Human rights organizations expressed concern.

Akbar's supporters and PTI leaders have cited the attack as an example of the Pakistani military leadership targeting critics living abroad. Human rights organizations have also expressed concern over the incident, noting that cross-border repression is increasingly being used to suppress political dissent.

British police have launched an investigation into the attack and have preserved evidence, including CCTV footage from the area. Following the attack, Mirza Shahzad Akbar stated that he was injured but not discouraged and would continue to fight for transparency and accountability.