By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The interior minister handed over extradition papers on Thursday to Britain’s top diplomat in Islamabad for two prominent pro opposition critics of the government living in the United Kingdom, escalating a campaign against what officials describe as fake news and anti-state propaganda spread from abroad.
The minister, Mohsin Naqvi, met with Jane Marriott, the British high commissioner, and presented documents seeking the return of Shahzad Akbar, a former special assistant to the ex-prime minister Imran Khan, and Adil Raja, a YouTuber and ex-military officer. The move followed Naqvi’s announcement three days earlier of a broad crackdown on social media figures accused of targeting state institutions.
According to a statement from the interior ministry, the meeting focused on strengthening ties between Pakistan and Britain, including security cooperation and the repatriation of undocumented Pakistanis in the UK Federal Secretary for Interior Muhammad Khurram Agha and other officials attended. “The extradition papers for Akbar and Raja from the government of Pakistan were handed over,” the statement said. “Both individuals are wanted in Pakistan. They should be handed over to Pakistan immediately,” Naqvi was quoted as saying.
He also shared evidence against Pakistani nationals abroad accused of disseminating propaganda. “I fully believe in freedom of expression, but fake news is a problem for every country,” the minister said. “No country can allow slander and defamation against state institutions from those sitting abroad.” Naqvi expressed hope for British assistance in returning those who “spread anti-Pakistan propaganda,” and noted that the extradition process had been initiated through the foreign ministry.
The targets of the request swiftly pushed back on social media. Akbar, posting on the platform X, formerly Twitter, said the government action followed his work exposing issues in Pakistan. “It has become increasingly clear that my publications, broadcasts, and political commentary on human rights abuses in Pakistan, the rise of authoritarianism, unconstitutional amendments, and the current impasse over military appointments have deeply angered the regime,” he wrote, tagging Marriott and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. “I urge you to note that, as I have repeatedly stated, the worst forms of retaliation have already been used against me, including the abduction of my family members in Pakistan and an acid attack against me here in the UK.”
Akbar reported in 2023 that acidic liquid had been thrown at him at his home in England, prompting him to sue the Pakistani government, a claim the foreign office dismissed as “simply preposterous.” “I trust that UK authorities will uphold due process, rule of law, and human-rights obligations,” he said.
Raja, responding to Akbar’s post, criticised the Pakistani leadership. “The Pakistani regime’s standing on the world stage is reflected in its failing economy, rampant corruption, and poor governance, all of which were detailed in the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) review,” he said. “They may call the British High Commissioner to complain, but such a complaint is itself unlawful under UK statutes, as we have committed no wrongdoing.”
Both men reside in the UK. Raja, a former Pakistan Army officer who styles himself as a whistleblower, was recently ordered by a London high court to pay £350,000 in damages and costs after defaming a former intelligence officer with baseless claims of corruption and election meddling. Akbar operates a YouTube channel focused on Pakistan’s politics.
The extradition push aligns with Naqvi’s vow on Monday to curb misinformation. At a news conference in Lahore, he said the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the information ministry would act aggressively against fake news purveyors. “The state will no longer allow individuals to declare a living person dead, a dead person alive, or make any allegation they please without evidence,” he said, alluding to recent rumors about the health of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. “Since the past few days, 90 percent news on social media was fake.”
Addressing criticism of Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir, he warned: “The state is clear. We will not spare them. The other day someone was saying in London that there was a dispute within the institutions. This will have to stop. Those sitting out there (UK) will be brought back soon.”
The government’s tougher stance extends beyond social media. On the same day, officials in Balochistan Province announced a crackdown on 300 suspected terrorists and plans to seek Interpol’s help in arresting leaders of banned groups living abroad.
A statement from the chief minister’s secretariat said the decision emerged from a high-level meeting led by Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, where evidence including call recordings linked overseas commanders to local networks. “After reviewing the material, the provincial government approved stringent and extraordinary measures to dismantle the outfits and tighten the noose around their operatives,” it said. “The provincial government, therefore, decided that it would seek Interpol’s assistance to nab the suspected terrorists who took refuge outside Pakistan.”
The effort targets groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army, Balochistan Liberation Front, United Baloch Army, Baloch Revolution Group and Lashkar-i-Balochistan. Bugti directed departments to accelerate Interpol red notices with federal support and activate a specialized anti-terrorism cell. The province will coordinate with the central government to present evidence internationally. “Eliminating the elements challenging the writ of the state has become inevitable and has entered a decisive stage,” Bugti said. “There will be no compromise on peace, protection of citizens, and the dignity of the state.”
Balochistan’s security has deteriorated recently, with militants intensifying attacks amid a long-running insurgency. Last Sunday, the Frontier Corps headquarters in Nokundi, in Chagai District, was targeted.
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