Prime Minister’s former special assistant Mirza Shahzad Akbar, who currently resides in the United Kingdom (UK), has been declared an offender in a case related to his alleged controversial statements on social media platform X.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had registered the case against Akbar in July this year for allegedly defamatory and controversial comments shared on his social media account.
According to the court order, issued by judicial magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah, the decision was taken after Akbar failed to appear in court despite multiple summons.
The order also directed the authorities concerned to issue an arrest warrant against Akbar to ensure his production before the court. The order indicated that the accused did not cooperate with the investigation and remained absent during the judicial process.
A challenge to the case has already been filed in court.
With the proclamation order now in place, law enforcement authorities are expected to intensify their efforts to arrest the former accountability assistant as the trial progresses.
The development comes a day after Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi met UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott and was handed over the extradition documents of Akbar and YouTuber Adil Raja.
Naqvi had had before announced an offensive against those who participate in fake news, declaring that the government would repatriate YouTubers involved in this activity or in attacks against state institutions from the United Kingdom.
More to follow.
