Shahzad Akbar, a former adviser to deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan, is taking legal action against the government of Pakistan over an alleged acid attack.
On November 26, 2023, Shahzad Akbar claimed that an unidentified man threw acid on him when he opened the main door of his residence in Royston.
Shahzad Akbar delivered a copy of his lawsuit to the Pakistan High Commission in London on Monday afternoon. As per a copy of the lengthy (15-page) court suit, he blames the attack on a number of Pakistani government officials. In the letter, Shahzad alleges that the incident, which occurred in front of his small child and left him psychologically and physically injured, was orchestrated by the Pakistani government. Shahzad has written to the Pakistani government, detailing the legal action he plans to take against them in the London High Court.
The law firm representing Akbar said in a press statement that Shahzad was put on a no-fly list shortly after Khan was removed. His name was struck from the list following his victory in a judicial challenge. He traveled via Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to London on April 17, 2022, to avoid being targeted by the Pakistani government.
According to Shahzad, he was told by friends in October 2023 that the Pakistan High Commission in London was trying to find his home address.
According to Shahzad, he got a letter from the Pakistan High Commission in November 2023 asking for details regarding a private contract with the UK National Crime Agency. According to Shahzad, the attack was carried out at the highest level of the Pakistani government.
He wants the government to publicly apologize, to compensate him for his personal injuries, and to provide the names of all the people and/or organizations he claims were engaged in the attack.