Shahzad Akbar injured in UK attack, rejects AI-generated injury image

Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former Special Assistant on Accountability, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, was injured in a violent attack near his home in Cambridge, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, police and Akbar confirmed.

Akbar said The Express Tribune’s Correspondent in London that an image of his injured face circulating on social media is fake and generated by artificial intelligence, dismissing the posts as disinformation. He said the assailant hit him after he confirmed his identity and his nasal bone was broken in the attack, and he suffered other facial injuries.

Cambridge Police are actively investigating the targeted attack, collecting forensic evidence and reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests or identified a suspect, but assured Akbar that they are working to catch the person responsible and anyone who may have directed the attack.

Reading: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan Shahzad Akbar was injured in an attack in the UK

In a statement posted on social media, Akbar described the attacker as a construction worker or waste collector, who confirmed his name before launching the attack. He said he would not be intimidated by such “cowardly acts” and that his resolve had grown stronger.

Akbar added that due to the ongoing police investigation he could not release CCTV footage or photographs relating to the incident, but said he had full confidence in British law and its ability to deliver justice. He also appealed to the authorities to ensure security for all, including those with political differences.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) condemned the attack, saying the incident highlighted growing concerns for the safety of political dissidents in exile. Akbar, who has lived in the UK since 2022 after fleeing Pakistan following the toppling of the PTI government, has been an outspoken critic of corruption and human rights abuses at home. This is the latest attack on Akbar since he left Pakistan. in November 2023 he was targeted with acid outside his home in Hertfordshire, an incident linked to pressure from Pakistani authorities.