ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and handed over extradition documents for former PM’s aide Shahzad Akbar and YouTuber Adil Raja.
This development came three days after Naqvi announced a crackdown on those involved in spreading fake news.
During a press conference, he had said the government would seek the return of individuals in the UK responsible for disinformation or attacks on state institutions.
According to a statement issued by the Interior Ministry, Naqvi’s meeting with the British High Commissioner in Islamabad covered Pak-UK relations, security cooperation and other matters of mutual interest.
The statement said Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha and other senior officials also attended the meeting, where the issue of returning Pakistanis living illegally in the UK was discussed.
It added that Pakistan formally handed over the extradition papers of Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja, with Naqvi stressing both men were wanted and should be returned without delay.
He also shared evidence against other Pakistani nationals allegedly involved in propaganda campaigns.
Naqvi said he fully supports freedom of expression but fake news is a challenge for every country. No state, he added, can allow individuals abroad to slander or attack its institutions. Pakistan would welcome British cooperation in returning those spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda.
The ministry said the official extradition process has been initiated through the Foreign Office.
Both Akbar and Raja have been living in the UK for a long time. Raja, a former army officer, was recently ordered by the London High Court to pay £350,000 in damages and legal costs for making false accusations against a former Pakistani intelligence officer.
Shahzad Akbar also runs a YouTube channel where he comments on Pakistan’s political situation.
