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Pakistan Hands UK Extradition Papers for Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi hands UK High Commissioner extradition papers for Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja amid a renewed crackdown on “fake news” and anti-state propaganda.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-04
Pakistan Hands UK Extradition Papers for Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday handed over extradition papers for former PM’s aide Shahzad Akbar and YouTuber Adil Raja to United Kingdom High Commissioner Jane Marriott during a meeting in Islamabad, marking a significant escalation in Islamabad’s push against individuals accused of spreading “fake news” and targeting state institutions from abroad.

According to an official statement from the interior ministry, the meeting focused on Pak-UK relations, security cooperation and the repatriation of Pakistani nationals illegally residing in the UK. Federal Secretary for Interior Muhammad Khurram Agha and senior officials were also present.

Naqvi told the high commissioner that both Akbar and Raja were “wanted in Pakistan” and should be handed over “immediately.” He also provided what the ministry described as evidence against Pakistani citizens allegedly involved in online propaganda campaigns.

“I fully believe in freedom of expression, but fake news is a problem for every country,” Naqvi said. “No country can allow slander and defamation against state institutions from those sitting abroad.”

Akbar and Raja Respond

Reacting on X, Shahzad Akbar claimed the move was retaliatory in nature, saying his political commentary and reporting on “human rights abuses, authoritarianism and unconstitutional amendments” had angered authorities.

He alleged that he had previously faced extreme retaliation, including the abduction of family members in Pakistan and an acid attack in the UK in 2023 — claims the Foreign Office had called “preposterous” at the time.

Akbar urged UK authorities to uphold due process and human rights.

Adil Raja, a former Pakistan Army officer-turned-YouTuber, also issued a statement criticising the government. He argued that the complaint itself was “unlawful under UK statutes” and insisted he had committed no wrongdoing. Raja was earlier ordered by a London court to pay £350,000 in damages after being found guilty of defaming a former intelligence officer.

Both individuals reside in the UK and frequently comment on Pakistani politics via social media platforms.

Crackdown on ‘Fake News’

The development comes just days after Naqvi announced a sweeping crackdown on social media–based misinformation. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the information ministry had been tasked with large-scale action against those spreading fake news.

“The state will no longer allow individuals to declare a living person dead, a dead person alive, or level baseless allegations,” he said, referring to false rumours circulating online about the health of former prime minister Imran Khan.

Naqvi accused certain YouTubers of deliberately creating panic and warned that those residing abroad — especially in the UK — would be “brought back soon.” He also confirmed that a regulatory body for online content is being established to bring accountability mechanisms to social media platforms.

Regarding criticism of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir, Naqvi stated firmly: “We will not spare them. This will have to stop.”

Extradition Process Initiated

The interior ministry confirmed that the extradition request had been initiated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though the final decision rests with UK authorities, who apply stringent legal tests in such cases.

For now, both Akbar and Raja maintain they will contest any attempts to extradite them, framing the move as political retaliation.
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Pakistan

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Extradition

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