Mirza Shahzad Akbar, once the formidable Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability, now finds himself caught between serious legal battles in Pakistan, facing accusations of massive corruption, 190 million Pound Sterling and fabrication of criminal cases. His fall from grace is epic, from a key figure in the previous government to a “Proclaimed Offender.”
Source: Dawn
Shahzad Akbar is accused of different crimes lets delve into each of the prominent cases registered against him.
Unpacking the Al-Qadir Trust Scandal
The most significant case against Shahzad Akbar is his involvement in the £190 million settlement case, widely known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. This case involves financial embezzlement in funds unearthed and repatriated by British National Crime Agency (NCA) to the state of Pakistan.
Source: Tribune
On January 6, 2024, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) declared Shahzad Akbar a “Proclaimed Offender” due to his failure to appear before the court or authorities despite summons.
The case involves a settlement between the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK and a Pakistani property tycoon, Malik Riaz. The funds, legally belonging to the people of Pakistan, were repatriated but on their way back home, Shahzad Akbar, backed by his masters—then serving Prime Minister and his associates, his wife Bushra Bibi, and seven others—illegally acquired billions of rupees and land from Bahria Town Ltd in exchange for legitimizing 50 billion rupees that the UK had previously identified and returned to Pakistan during Imran Khan’s government.
Imran Khan was central to the illegal transfer of funds, and Shahzad Akbar, who previously worked as a special assistant to the premier and headed the Asset Recovery Unit, was a key figure in the conspiracy of embezzling state funds. Malik Riaz colluded with others to divert funds designated for the state, actively supporting and assisting in the crime. Other prominent figures nominated by NAB include Farah Gogi, Zulfi Bukhari, and Barrister Zia-ul-Mustafa Naseem.
It is necessary to mention the misappropriated funds are a staggering £190 million—the harm caused to the national exchequer is unfathomable. The key figures in this case have already been convicted by the Accountability Court of Islamabad, in the verdict. Now it is the turn of their accessories and conspirators to face justice.
Source: The Friday Time
Allegations of Forgery, Extortion, and Misuse of Office
Shahzad Akbar a central figure in the Criminal Case—FIR. No. 156/23—registered at the Secretariat Police Station in Islamabad. This case, registered on May 17, 2023, by businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor, outlines a disturbing narrative of alleged conspiracy, forgery, and egregious misuse of public office. Notably, Shahzad Akbar was declared a “Proclaimed Offender” in this specific case on December 3, 2023, due to his continued absence from legal proceedings.
The FIR No. 156/23 stems from two earlier false and vindictive cases—FIR No. 36/20 and 40/20—that Shahzad Akbar, along with Sophia Mirza, also known as Khushbakht Mirza, and others, conspiratorially registered against Umar Farooq Zahoor in the summer and early October of 2020. These cases accuse Zahoor of fraud and money laundering, with the alleged intent to extort approximately Rs 16 billion from him and his brother-in-law.
Subsequent investigations by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) found these initial allegations to be “false, frivolous, and based on forged documents,” leading to the cancellation of FIR(s) registered against Umar Farooq Zahoor.
Shahzad Akbar is now the prime accused in FIR No. 156/23 of fraudulently obtaining Cabinet approval for these investigations by concealing critical information: that similar cases against Zahoor had already been closed in Switzerland and Norway, and that Zahoor held diplomatic status as Ambassador at Large of Liberia.
The charges against Shahzad Akbar are comprehensive they include;
- Conspiracy, forgery, and misuse of public office, cheating, preparation of forged documents, extortion of money, defamation, and criminal intimidation.
- Shahzad Akbar is specifically accused of conspiring a fabricated story, misleading the Prime Minister’s cabinet.
- Misusing his authority to pressure FIA investigation officers—namely, Sanaullah Abbasi, Umaid Butt, and Ali Mardan Shah—to prepare forged and fabricated warrants of arrest against Zahoor, allegedly to secure a Red Notice, or Warrant, from Interpol.
- The FIR also implicates Sophia Mirza as a key co-accused in this alleged scheme of blackmail and extortion.
Witness in Adil Raja Defamation Case
In addition to the criminal charges Shahzad Akbar in Pakistan, he is also a key witness for Adil Raja—in the defamation lawsuit filed in the UK High Court against UK-based YouTuber Adil Raja by retired Brigadier Rashid Naseer. Adil Raja has sought the UK court’s permission for several individuals to provide remote testimony as his witnesses, and notably, Shahzad Akbar is among them, alongside journalist Shaheen Sehbai and retired Colonel Akbar Hussain.
His inclusion as a proposed witness suggests a potential alignment of interests or shared narratives with Adil Raja, who faces allegations of running a defamation campaign and harming the state through dissemination of false and frivolous news/information through social media platforms and predominantly his YouTube channel. Given Akbar’s own legal troubles in Pakistan, his potential testimony raises further concerns of implication in more severe cases—pertaining to misuse of public office and authority.
Shahzad Akbar’s proposed role as a witness for Adil Raja is highly concerning given his own alleged history, particularly the case accusing him of fabricating cases, extortion, and defamation against Umar Farooq Zahoor. This alignment with Raja, who faces similar accusations of disseminating false information and harming the state, suggests a potential pattern or network dedicated to maligning individuals.
Vital Concerns
Accordingly, critical questions arise, about whether other victims of defamation, extortion, or blackmail by similarly connected individuals have remained unheard. Akbar’s involvement could inadvertently expose deeper, unaddressed instances of such misconduct, highlighting a systemic issue requiring urgent investigation.
As a citizen of Pakistan, the allegations against Shahzad Akbar, especially his collaboration in fabricating cases for extortion and blackmail, are deeply alarming. The blatant misuse of public office, coupled with the suspected collusion among powerful individuals, shatters faith in the very institutions meant to protect us.
Such a precedent breeds profound mistrust in the government, its officers, and the justice system, leaving citizens vulnerable and disillusioned. It conveys a chilling message that power can be wielded for personal vendettas and illicit gain with impunity, further eroding the social contract and damaging the integrity of the state in the eyes of its own people.
Conclusion
The cases against Shahzad Akbar paint a picture of an individual facing multifaceted legal challenges, ranging from alleged grand corruption involving state funds to the alleged manipulation of the justice system for personal gain or vendetta.
His status as a “Proclaimed Offender” in significant cases underscores the ongoing legal pursuit and the gravity with which these allegations are viewed by the authorities. The outcome of these investigations and trials will not only determine Akbar’s legal fate but will also have broader implications for accountability, the rule of law, and public trust in Pakistan’s governance structures.
