Khawaja Asif files complaint after knife threat, harassment in London

• Minister meets London police at Pakistan High Commission.
• Says three to four individuals harassed, threatened him.
• "London police should use CCTV to trace individuals."

LONDON: Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has filed a formal complaint with the Metropolitan police after being harassed and threatened with a knife during a train journey near Heathrow Airport.

The London Transport Police has confirmed they are investigating the matter after the footage was passed to the police even before the four officers visited Pakistan High Commission on Thursday afternoon to meet Khawaja Asif.

The incident, which occurred on the Elizabeth Line around 3:30pm on Monday, saw a group of three to four individuals approach Asif and harass him while he was on his way to Reading on Elizabeth Line. Only one man is heard in the video making references to being attacked with a blade.

According to the minister, the individuals filmed him without permission, used abusive language, and made threats involving a knife. He also noted that he did not recognise any of the individuals involved.

Asif, who was in London for a private visit, informed the police about the threatening encounter and urged the London Transport Police to examine CCTV footage from the train to identify the suspects.

He stressed that such harassment was not only a personal affront but also an embarrassment for the 1.7 million British-Pakistani citizens living in the UK.

Speaking to Geo News, Asif confirmed he was threatened with a knife attack in London on the Tube near Heathrow airport by a Pakistani man.

"The report you aired on Geo News is right. I was threatened. The matter will be reported to the police and that process is underway. Some of the faces are recognisable. The video shows the faces."

In London, ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif expressed regret over the incident, saying that such individuals have been “trained and groomed” for chasing the people.

Calling the party stalwart a "fighter", the PML-N top leader slammed the individual who hurled abuses at him saying, "this is their fate".

He further said that Asif has always faced every difficulty with courage.

The defence minister expressed his dismay over the incident, calling it shameful and regrettable, as it adds to a troubling trend of harassment faced by Pakistani officials and political figures in the UK.

The most recent example of such harassment involved former Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, whose vehicle was attacked by PTI supporters in London last month.

Similarly, Judge Humayun Dilawar, who sentenced PTI founder Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case, was also chased by PTI supporters in August, 2023.