British counter-terrorism police have charged three men over a series of attacks against Pakistani political dissidents living in the United Kingdom, including a former adviser to jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan.
The assaults occurred in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire between December 24-31 and targeted two prominent supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
One alleged victim, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, is a human rights lawyer who served as accountability adviser in Khan’s cabinet. Akbar was instrumental in pursuing corruption cases against senior Pakistani political figures during Khan’s tenure.
Following Khan’s removal via a 2022 parliamentary no-confidence vote and his subsequent imprisonment, several aides, including Akbar, left Pakistan citing political persecution, with Akbar later settling in the UK as a political dissident.
Akbar told British media he was attacked at his home after the assailant confirmed his identity at the door. He said he was punched repeatedly, up to 30 times, before the attacker fled.
Akbar and his family have since gone into hiding. “I fear for my life and my family’s lives,” he said, describing the assault as an attempt to intimidate and silence him. He added that the attack did not appear random and noted his criticism of Pakistan’s current political system, which he said operates under military influence.
On Friday, counter-terrorism police confirmed that three British nationals had been formally charged in connection with the incidents.
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- Karl Blackbird, 40, from Bedworth, faces conspiracy to cause actual bodily harm in two alleged attacks on December 24.
- Clark McAulay, 39, from Coventry, is charged with the same offence over a separate incident in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
- Doneto Brammer, 21, from Wood Green, north London, has been charged in connection with the December 31 attack at Akbar’s home and faces additional charges, including possession of a prohibited weapon, conspiracy to commit arson, and conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
All three appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
The investigation involved coordinated arrests and searches across London, Essex, Birmingham, the Midlands, Coventry, and Warwickshire. At least seven people were arrested, with several later released on bail.
One individual detained in Warwickshire remains in custody. Detectives conducted multiple property searches as part of a complex and ongoing inquiry.
UK authorities have not publicly identified who may be behind the attacks. Counter-Terrorism Policing said officers are keeping an open mind regarding possible motives and whether the incidents are connected.
No foreign government or organisation has been accused, though the involvement of counter-terrorism units underscores the seriousness of the case.
The case has renewed concerns among Pakistani activists living in exile, many of whom say they continue to face threats and harassment abroad. Human rights groups have warned that transnational repression — efforts by states or political actors to silence critics overseas — is on the rise globally.
For Pakistani dissidents linked to Imran Khan and the PTI, the past two years have been marked by arrests, military trials, media restrictions, and imprisonment of senior political figures. Khan himself has remained jailed since 2023 in cases his supporters describe as politically motivated.
Akbar said the attacks aimed to spread fear among critics of Pakistan’s powerful establishment. “They are trying to scare and intimidate me,” he said. “But silence is what they want.” Police noted that further arrests or charges remain possible as the investigation continues.
