Shahzad Akbar dismisses viral injury photo as AI-generated

Former special assistant on accountability to ex-prime minister Imran Khan, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, was injured in a violent attack near his home in Cambridge, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, police and Akbar confirmed.

Akbar told The Express Tribune’s London correspondent that an image of his injured face circulating on social media is fake and generated by artificial intelligence, dismissing the posts as misinformation. He said the attacker struck him after confirming his identity, and his nasal bone was broken in the assault, with other facial wounds also sustained.

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 have assured Akbar they are working to apprehend the individual responsible and anyone who may have directed the attack.

Read: Ex-PM Imran Khan aide Shahzad Akbar injured in UK attack

In a statement posted on social media, Akbar described the assailant as appearing to be either a construction worker or a waste-collector, who confirmed his name before launching the assault. He said such “cowardly acts” will not intimidate him and that his resolve has only grown stronger.

Akbar added that due to the ongoing police inquiry he could not share CCTV footage or photographs related to the incident, but said he had full faith in British law and its capacity to deliver justice. He also appealed to authorities to ensure safety for all, including those with political differences.

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