Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has filed a formal complaint with the London Metropolitan Police after being harassed and threatened with a knife during a train journey near Heathrow Airport. The incident occurred on Monday at around 3:30 PM on the Elizabeth Line, as Asif was traveling towards Reading.
According to the minister, a group of three or four individuals approached him, filmed him without his consent, and used abusive language. One of the individuals made threats, mentioning a knife. Asif said he did not recognize any of the people involved. The situation was captured on video, and the footage was handed over to the police.
The London Transport Police confirmed they are investigating the matter and have reviewed the video. They also visited the Pakistan High Commission on Thursday to meet with Khawaja Asif and discuss the incident. Asif, who was in London for a private visit, has asked the police to examine CCTV footage from the train to help identify the suspects.
In his statement, Asif described the harassment as not just a personal attack, but also an embarrassment to the 1.7 million British-Pakistani citizens living in the UK. He called the incident shameful and regrettable, pointing out that it was part of a worrying trend of harassment faced by Pakistani officials and political figures in the UK.
The leader of his political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, expressed regret over the attack. He said such behavior is the result of individuals being "trained and groomed" to target public figures. This incident follows a similar attack last month, when former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, was also harassed by PTI supporters in London.