ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) vehemently dismissed the assertions made by PTI leader Mirza Shahzad Akbar regarding the alleged involvement of state officials in last year’s acid attack against him, labeling them as “preposterous”.
Akbar, a former special assistant to the prime minister, had relocated to the United Kingdom following Imran Khan’s removal from office in April 2022. He claimed to have been attacked at his residence in England, purportedly with acid and subsequently initiated legal action against the Pakistan government, accusing several officials of orchestrating the assault.
During the weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch refuted Akbar’s claims, emphasizing that such allegations were baseless and politically motivated. Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the safety and security of its nationals abroad, stressing that it is not the country’s policy to target its citizens overseas. She highlighted the presence of political dissidents in the UK who have routinely criticized Pakistan without facing retaliatory actions from the state.
Addressing concerns raised by opposition leader Omar Ayub and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser regarding the alleged relinquishment of control over two airbases to the United States, Baloch dismissed the speculations as unfounded. She asserted that Pakistan has no intentions of providing bases to any foreign government or military against any entity.
Regarding the emergence of an alleged Indian spy network in Australia and reports implicating Indian intelligence services in assassination plots in Canada and the United States, Baloch underscored Pakistan’s presentation of concrete evidence implicating Indian agents in terrorist activities within Pakistan. She condemned such actions as illegal and urged the international community to hold India accountable for its violations of international law.
In response to questions regarding the confrontation between the German ambassador and pro-Palestine protesters at the Asma Jahangir Conference, Baloch described the incident as regrettable. She acknowledged the heightened emotions surrounding the ongoing situation in Gaza but expressed hope that the incident would prompt constructive dialogue on human rights issues, particularly concerning selectivity and double standards.
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