Former adviser to the prime minister on accountability and interior, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, sustained serious injuries after a violent assault at his residence near Cambridge in the United Kingdom on December 24.
Sources within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said a masked man forced his way onto the property and attacked Akbar without warning. The suspect, described as a white male aged between his mid-twenties and thirties, repeatedly punched Akbar in the face before fleeing.
According to party sources, the attacker returned briefly. He resumed the assault, recorded a video, and left only after Akbar lost consciousness. Family members raised an alarm, which forced the assailant to flee permanently.
A few days ago, the DG ISPR, Major General Ahmed Sharif said in a press conference about Barrister Shehzad Akbar that "I don't even want to see his face”!
Yesterday Barrister Shahzad delivered a bold and factual speech against Pakistan’s martial law regime, in front of Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/lxzgHZdQR8
— PTI UK (@UKPTIOfficial) December 24, 2025British police responded promptly to the emergency call and rushed Akbar to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment. Investigators secured CCTV footage from the premises and began examining evidence linked to the attack.
Akbar has been in self-imposed exile in the UK since 2022, following the removal of the PTI government in Pakistan. In a later account, he said the assailant struck him dozens of times and planned the attack, pointing to the use of a mask and gloves.
Barrister Shahzad Akbar, after this speech, has been brutally attacked by masked men, at his home, this morning, who left him in a pool of blood with broken nose, jaw and broken ribs.
Shahzad’s speech was focused on Pakistan’s Army Chief, Gen Asim Munir..What it means? pic.twitter.com/xakU103amO
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) December 24, 2025PTI leaders strongly condemned the incident, calling it a targeted attack linked to Akbar’s previous role in leading high-profile accountability and asset recovery efforts while in office.
Read: Pakistan Initiates UK Extradition of Shahzad Akbar, Major (retd) Adil Raja
The incident marks the second violent attack against Akbar in the UK. In 2023, unknown assailants carried out an acid attack at his former home in Hertfordshire, which caused burns but did not damage his eyesight. Police later closed that case after failing to identify suspects.
Earlier today in Cambridge, UK, Barrister Shahzad Akbar @ShazadAkbar was brutally attacked, punched repeatedly in the face, and hospitalized with fractured facial bones.
Forced into exile years ago to protect his life, Akbar has remained a vocal critic of the Pakistani state,… pic.twitter.com/EyT7sFVlar
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 24, 2025The latest assault comes amid ongoing legal proceedings against Akbar in Pakistan, including investigations related to the Al-Qadir Trust case and allegations of assets beyond known means. Pakistani authorities recently submitted extradition requests to the UK, adding further political context to the case.
British authorities have confirmed that an active investigation is underway. Police are reviewing forensic material, CCTV footage, and witness statements. They have not released any details about the suspect at this stage.
As he recovers from his injuries, Akbar continues to cooperate with investigators. PTI officials say the incident has reignited concerns over the safety of political exiles abroad and highlighted the risks faced by dissidents living outside Pakistan.
