Defence Minister Khawaja Asif visited the Pakistan High Commission in London on November 14, 2024, to file a complaint with local police after being harassed and threatened with a knife earlier in the week.
Asif detailed the threat and harassment he encountered while traveling on the Elizabeth Line in London. The London Transport Police is currently investigating the incident, according to the state-run news agency APP.
Khawaja Asif explained that the unfortunate incident occurred on November 11, 2024, at around 3:30 pm while he was traveling to Reading with a relative. He described how a group of three to four individuals harassed him, filmed him without his consent, used offensive language, and threatened him with a knife.
The minister noted that he did not recognize the individuals involved in the attack.
He urged the London Transport Police to review CCTV footage to help identify the culprits. Asif condemned the incident, calling it a shameful and regrettable event, particularly for the 1.7 million British-Pakistani citizens living in the UK.
This is not the first time that Pakistani political leaders have faced harassment in London. Previously, former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s vehicle was attacked by PTI supporters, and former judge Humayun Dilawar was pursued by PTI activists. Similarly, PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb and Hina Pervaiz Butt have also been harassed by individuals connected to PTI.
