Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday met United Kingdom (UK) High Commissioner Jane Marriott where he handed over the extradition papers of former Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahzad Akbar and YouTuber Adil Raja.
The development comes three days after Naqvi announced a crackdown on those involved in fake news, declaring that the government would repatriate from the United Kingdom those (YouTubers) involved in this activity or in attacks against state institutions.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Naqvi held an “important” meeting with Marriott in Islamabad, where the two discussed Pakistan-UK relations, security cooperation and issues of mutual interest.
Federal Secretary Home Affairs Muhammad Khurram Agha and other relevant officials were also present, he added. They also discussed the return of Pakistanis residing illegally in the UK, he added.
“Akbar and Raja’s extradition documents from Pakistan government were handed over [to Marriott]”the statement said.
“Both individuals are wanted in Pakistan. They should be handed over to Pakistan immediately,” Naqvi said.
He also provided evidence against Pakistani nationals who were spreading propaganda, the statement said.
“I fully believe in freedom of expression, but fake news is a problem for all countries,” he said, according to the statement.
“No country can allow slander and defamation against state institutions by those abroad,” the minister stated. Naqvi also said Pakistan would welcome British cooperation for the return of those “spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda”.
The statement further said that the Ministry of Home Affairs had initiated the extradition process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Reacting to the news, Akbar took to social media platform
Labeling Marriott and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), he said: “I urge you to note that, as I have repeatedly said, the worst forms of retaliation have already been used against me, including the kidnapping of my family members in Pakistan and an acid attack on me here in the UK.”
In 2023, Akbar said he was attacked at his home in England, adding that “acidic liquid” was thrown at him. He launched legal action against the Pakistani government last year, after which the Foreign Ministry said Akbar’s claims were “simply absurd.”
“I trust that the UK authorities will respect due process, the rule of law and human rights obligations,” he said.
Naqvi announces crackdown on fake news peddlers
In his press conference on Monday, the Home Minister said that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Ministry of Information will jointly initiate large-scale action against those spreading fake news.
“The state will no longer allow people to declare a living person dead, a dead person alive (a reference to fake news about Imran Khan’s health), or make any accusation they want without proof. Since the last few days, 90 per cent of the news on social media was fake,” Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore.
The comments came as social media was abuzz with reports about former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s health.
Naqvi had fingered some so-called social media journalists for spreading fake news.
“Traditional journalists are part of a strong editorial system, unlike those on social media who spread fake news. We will not allow anyone to create panic in the guise of journalism on social media. Those who spread fake news are not journalists for us. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) takes action on misreporting in traditional media, but social media lacks accountability mechanisms,” he explained, adding that a regulatory body was being set up for online content.
Asked about the criticism leveled at Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Asim Munir, Naqvi said: “The state is clear. We will not forgive them. The other day someone said in London that there was a dispute within the institutions. This will have to stop. Those who are there (UK) will be brought back soon.”
