The federal government has formally initiated the extradition process for former special assistant to the prime minister Mirza Shahzad Akbar and retired army officer and YouTuber Major (retd) Adil Raja, both currently residing in the United Kingdom and wanted in Pakistan for separate cases.
The move was confirmed during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott, where Naqvi raised the issue of Pakistanis living illegally in the UK as well as those facing criminal charges back home.
Naqvi handed over the official extradition documents to the British envoy and stressed that both individuals are “wanted in Pakistan and should be immediately handed over.” He reiterated that while Pakistan supports freedom of expression, fake news, slander, and anti-state propaganda cannot be ignored, particularly when originating from abroad.
“No country can allow defamation of its institutions from overseas,” Naqvi said, adding that Pakistan looks forward to UK’s cooperation in extraditing individuals engaged in activities against the state. He also presented evidence regarding certain overseas Pakistanis allegedly involved in spreading misinformation and propaganda.
The Ministry of Interior has forwarded the cases to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to formally complete the extradition requirements.
Shahzad Akbar’s Passport Issue and Legal Background
Just last month, the Pakistan High Commission in London refused to renew Shahzad Akbar’s passport. Akbar—once a key aide to former PM Imran Khan and head of the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU)—has been living in the UK since April 2022. He left Pakistan soon after Khan’s ouster, despite his name being placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). The Islamabad High Court later ordered the removal of his name, terming the travel ban unlawful.
Akbar previously served as a special prosecutor for NAB and worked on high-profile corruption cases involving Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif, who is now the prime minister.
Case Against Adil Raja
Major (retd) Adil Raja, a fugitive YouTuber, was convicted under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, and the Official Secrets Act, 1923. He was sentenced by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in 2023 on charges of inciting sedition within the armed forces and involvement in activities deemed harmful to the state. He has been residing in the UK and remains wanted by Pakistani authorities.
With the initiation of formal extradition proceedings, Pakistan is now awaiting the UK’s response on whether both men will be handed over to face charges at home.
