Mirza Shahzad Akbar, a former accountability advisor in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government under ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, was brutally assaulted in the United Kingdom. Akbar, who now resides in the UK after leaving Pakistan in April 2022, confirmed the attack in Cambridge where he sustained injuries including a fractured nose and jaw. The attack, carried out by a 25-30-year-old assailant, has sparked concerns over the safety of political dissidents living in exile in the UK.
The incident, which took place at Akbar’s residence, has drawn condemnation from the PTI party, emphasizing the risks faced by exiled political figures. This assault follows a previous attack on Akbar in November 2023, where an unknown individual threw acid at him. Akbar, known for his involvement in the Al Qadir Trust case linked to PTI founder Imran Khan, has faced intimidation and harassment, allegedly orchestrated by Pakistani security agencies.
In response to the attacks, Akbar has vowed not to be intimidated and has taken legal action against the Pakistani government over the acid attack. Despite being declared a proclaimed offender by an Islamabad court in a separate case, Akbar’s situation has attracted international attention, with the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights highlighting Pakistan’s use of transnational repression tactics against dissidents residing in the UK.
