Mirza Shahzad Akbar, Adviser to Former PM Imran Khan, Assaulted by Masked Men in UK

Mirza Shahzad Akbar, Adviser to Former PM Imran Khan, Assaulted by Masked Men in UK

An adviser to jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been attacked by masked assailants near his home in the United Kingdom, leaving him with serious facial injuries and renewing concerns over the safety of Pakistani dissidents abroad.

Mirza Shahzad Akbar, who served as accountability adviser during Khan’s tenure, was struck in the face by unknown attackers, according to people close to him. The assault reportedly caused fractures to his nose and jaw. Akbar has been hospitalised and is undergoing treatment.

Supporters say the attack occurred days after Akbar delivered a speech sharply critical of Pakistan’s military leadership, particularly Defence Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. The speech circulated widely online and intensified Islamabad’s efforts to seek Akbar’s extradition from the UK.

Akbar has long been an outspoken critic of the military’s role in politics and Pakistan’s human rights record. His allies allege the attack was carried out at the direction of Munir, describing it as an example of “transnational repression.” They argue that critics of Pakistan’s powerful military establishment are increasingly being targeted even after leaving the country. No official response has been issued by Pakistan’s military to these claims.

In his viral remarks, Akbar accused Munir of ruling through intimidation. He said the army chief had attempted to govern Pakistan for more than three years by spreading “fear and terror,” but claimed those efforts ultimately failed.

“He attacked our homes, kidnapped our loved ones and tried every method to instil fear,” Akbar said in the speech. He pointed to public resistance and the continued protests by Imran Khan’s family outside Adiala Jail as evidence that such tactics had not succeeded.

Akbar also appeared to take a personal swipe at Munir, saying fear had “spread in the man who still wears a bulletproof vest under his uniform,” a remark that drew sharp reactions online.

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The attack comes as Pakistan presses ahead with legal efforts to bring Akbar back from Britain. Pakistani media have reported that the Shehbaz Sharif government has sent a complete case file to UK authorities, requesting action under extradition laws. The documents reportedly include certified records of criminal cases and court proceedings, as well as material from investigations conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency, the National Accountability Bureau and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.

A Pakistani court recently declared Akbar a proclaimed offender, a move that strengthens Islamabad’s extradition request.

This is not the first time Akbar has reported being targeted in the UK. In 2023, he told the BBC he survived an acid attack outside his home. The substance narrowly missed his eyes but caused injuries elsewhere on his body. Akbar said he had received repeated threats since leaving Pakistan with his family after Imran Khan was ousted from power in April 2022.

British authorities have not yet commented publicly on the latest assault. As Akbar recovers in hospital, his supporters say the incident underscores the risks faced by exiled political figures and raises troubling questions about accountability beyond national borders.