Pakistan formally asks UK to hand over Shehzad Akbar and Adil Raja

WEB DESK: Pakistan has formally requested the United Kingdom to extradite Shehzad Akbar and Adil Raja, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Thursday.

The development came during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott in Islamabad, where the two discussed the repatriation of Pakistanis living illegally in the UK.

According to the ministry, Naqvi handed over the official extradition documents for Akbar and former serviceman-turned-YouTuber Major (retd) Raja, stating that both individuals are wanted in Pakistan and should be returned without delay. The minister stressed that no country can allow individuals abroad to spread misinformation or launch defamatory campaigns against the state.

The meeting also reviewed the status of the £190 million case, in which the passports of Malik Riaz, Ali Riaz, Shehzad Akbar and Farah Khan have already been blocked.

Naqvi said Pakistan welcomes British cooperation in bringing back those engaged in anti-state propaganda from overseas.

Earlier in October, a UK court had ruled against fRaja in a defamation case filed by former ISI Brigadier (retd) Rashid Naseer. The London High Court declared Raja’s allegations false and defamatory, ordering him to pay £50,000 (around Rs20 million) in damages and an additional £300,000 (around Rs110 million) in legal costs, totaling nearly Rs130 million. Raja must also issue a public apology, pledge not to repeat the claims, and publish a summary of the verdict across all his media platforms.

The case, heard in June, concerned nine publications on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in which Raja accused Naseer of manipulating courts, rigging elections, bribery, and amassing wealth through alleged corruption. The court rejected all claims as unsubstantiated and defamatory, dismissing Raja’s reliance on journalist Arshad Sharif’s report. None of Raja’s witnesses could support his allegations. Naseer called the verdict a victory for truth and a warning against spreading falsehoods for personal gain.