Pakistan has made what officials describe as significant progress toward bringing back former accountability adviser Shahzad Akbar from the United Kingdom, after formally sharing detailed legal documents with British authorities, sources told SAMAA.
According to sources, the federal government has decided to pursue extradition matters from the UK on a case-by-case basis. As part of this process, comprehensive details of ongoing cases and court proceedings against Shahzad Akbar have been provided to the British side.
The documents were handed over by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to the British High Commissioner, officials confirmed.
Details of criminal cases shared
Sources said the dossier includes details of three cases registered against Shahzad Akbar in Islamabad. Of these, two cases are registered at the Secretariat Police Station, while one case is registered at Kohsar Police Station.
The documents also contain details of Shahzad Akbar’s conviction by a NAB court, along with information related to cases registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
In addition, the dossier mentions that Shahzad Akbar has been declared a fugitive by a local court, sources added.
Alongside Shahzad Akbar, the federal government has also sent details related to Adil Raja to UK authorities. Officials said evidence against both individuals was included in the submissions made to the British government.
Mohsin Naqvi’s UK Visit and high-level meetings
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the British Home Office in London, where he held meetings with UK officials to formally request the extradition of individuals wanted by Pakistan.
During the meetings, Pakistani officials presented a detailed dossier to support the extradition requests. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal, was also present during these discussions.
Talks with British High Commissioner
Prior to this, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad. The meeting focused on Pakistan-UK relations, security cooperation, and the repatriation of Pakistanis residing illegally in the UK.
A major part of the discussion centered on Pakistan’s request for the immediate extradition of Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja.
Mohsin Naqvi informed the British envoy that Pakistan has formally requested the UK government to extradite both individuals, stressing the urgency of legal action.
“Both individuals are wanted in Pakistan, so they should be immediately extradited,” the interior minister said, according to sources.
He added that Pakistan has provided solid evidence against the two, whom the government accuses of spreading propaganda from abroad.
