Ex-PM Imran Khan's aide Shahzad Akbar sues Pakistani govt over acid attack in UK

• Akbar served copy of legal action to Pakistan High Commission.
• Ex-PM adviser names several officials as responsible for attack.
• Akbar mentions Pakistani activists targeted abroad.

LONDON: Shahzad Akbar, the former federal minister and ex-adviser to deposed prime minister Imran Khan, is taking legal action against the government of Pakistan over an acid attack that left him “scarred for life”.

Acid was thrown at his face when he opened his door to a caller at his home in England’s Royston town on November 26, 2023.

He believes only his glasses, and his slamming the door shut prevented him from being blinded.

On Monday afternoon, Akbar served a copy of his legal action to the Pakistan High Commission in London. This reporter has seen a copy of the legal claim of over 15 pages. It names several Pakistan government officials as responsible for the attack.

Akbar claimed in the letter the government of Pakistan was behind the attack, which happened in front of his young child, and has left him scarred and with psychological injuries.

Akbar sent the Pakistani government a letter outlining the claim that he intends to bring against it at the High Court in London.

Akbar, aged 46, was an adviser to Imran Khan until three months before the prime minister was ousted in April 2022.

A press release issued by the law firm representing the former adviser said Akbar highlighted how the powerful elements interfered with his accountability and anti-corruption objectives when he was the federal minister.

“Realising that the issue was systematic and that he could not fix the rampant corruption in Pakistan, he resigned from Khan’s government in January 2022,” it says.

It adds: “Shortly after Khan was ousted, Shahzad was placed on a no-fly list. His name was removed from the list after he was successful in a court challenge. On 17 April 2022, he fled to London via Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to avoid being targeted by Pakistan and/or its agents.

“In December 2022, Shahzad settled in the UK and took on an in-house lawyer position with a UK company based in London. He claims that the government of Pakistan has continued to target him through acts of transnational repression.”

The former minister claimed that in October 2023, he was informed by his acquaintances that the Pakistan High Commission in London was attempting to trace his home address.

In November 2023, Shahzad received a letter from the Pakistan High Commission demanding information about a confidential agreement involving the UK National Crime Agency.

The press release says: “Two weeks later, on 26 November 2023, Shahzad suffered the acid attack. His wife and daughters were at home with him when the attacker struck. The assailant aimed acid from a bottle at Shahzad’s face, injuring his face, head and right arm. If it were not for his glasses, the acid would have also injured Shahzad’s eyes, likely causing permanent partial or complete blindness. Shahzad reacted quickly and slammed his front door. His skin began to melt, and he was in excruciating pain.

“Shahzad’s wife called 999 and the fire and rescue service hosed him down outside his home, in almost-freezing temperatures. Uncertain if the substance used was deadly, the emergency services took Shahzad to the Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge. The attack has caused discolouration and/or hyperpigmentation of the areas of skin burned by the acid. Shahzad claims the attack was perpetrated and/or directed by Pakistan and/or its agents.”

Akbar named Pakistan activists who were targeted abroad including Ahmad Waqas Goraya, Gul Bukhari, Fazal Khan and Arshad Sharif.

The Hertfordshire police had confirmed that Akbar had reported the acid assault on November 26 but the police have not charged anyone in the investigation.