LONDON: The Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in London has denied the renewal of Shahzad Akbar’s passport, sources have confirmed. Akbar, who served as former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s adviser on interior and accountability, had scheduled an online appointment for passport renewal on October 29.
When he visited the PHC for biometric verification, officials reportedly informed him that his passport had been blocked by Pakistani authorities.
Sources reveal that the Interior Ministry and NADRA officially cancelled Akbar’s passport in 2023 following a request from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case—the same case that saw convictions for former PM Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Others involved, such as Farhat Shahzadi (Farah Gogi) and Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari (Zulfi Bukhari), have also had their passports blocked or cancelled.
Akbar, a barrister by profession and former head of the government’s Asset Recovery Unit (ARU), left Pakistan in April 2022 shortly after Khan’s government was ousted. His name was initially placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), but he left the country after the Islamabad High Court deemed the ban unlawful.
The situation carries a notable irony, as Akbar’s ministry had previously blocked or refused passport renewals for exiled leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar during his tenure. Now, the same measure has been applied to him.
An official stated that the refusal sends a clear message: Akbar is wanted in Pakistan, and his passport renewal will remain conditional on his return and cooperation with NAB investigations.
Akbar previously served as a Special Prosecutor with NAB from 2004 to 2008, handling high-profile corruption cases involving political figures like Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, and Shahbaz Sharif, who is now Pakistan’s Prime Minister.
Akbar has confirmed that his passport renewal request has been denied. The Pakistan High Commission stated that all passport and identity document issuances follow Pakistani law.
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