Shehzad Akbar faces £190 million corruption scandal in Pakistan, accused of diverting UK NCA deal funds to private accounts. NAB probes, Interpol action likely, as Imran Khan distances himself.
WEBDESK — Pakistan has been shaken by revelations in the £190 million scandal, where former accountability czar Shehzad Akbar is now the prime accused in diverting massive funds from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement into private accounts instead of the national treasury.
Background of the Scandal
- The NCA Deal: In 2019, the UK’s NCA confiscated assets worth £120 million from a prominent Pakistani business tycoon. Instead of a legal battle, a confidential £190 million settlement was reached, with the understanding that the money would return to Pakistan’s national exchequer.
- Confidential Handling: On November 6, 2019, Shehzad Akbar signed a “Deed of Confidentiality,” effectively bypassing parliament and cabinet in the initial handling of the deal.
- Private Account Diversion: Instead of depositing the funds into the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as mandated, the money was allegedly rerouted to a Supreme Court registrar’s account, raising serious legal and ethical concerns.
- Opaque Overseas Engagements: Akbar reportedly made multiple secret trips to the UK in 2019, directly negotiating with the NCA and UK Home Secretary, while deliberately excluding key Pakistani institutions like the FBR, FIA, and SBP.
Legal and Political Fallout
- Cabinet’s Late Approval: The federal cabinet only approved the NCA settlement on December 3, 2019 — weeks after Akbar had already committed to the confidential arrangement.
- NAB Investigation: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has now declared Shehzad Akbar the central accused and filed a reference against him. He has been declared a “Proclaimed Offender” after failing to appear in court.
- Possible Interpol Action: Pakistani authorities are reportedly considering issuing Interpol red notices to bring Akbar back from abroad to face trial.
Public and Political Reaction
- Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, widely known as “Kaptaan,” is reportedly livid at Akbar, as this scandal further tarnishes his narrative of anti-corruption and clean governance.
- On social media, supporters and critics alike are questioning how such a colossal sum was mishandled without broader government oversight.
- There is growing demand for a transparent public inquiry into not just Akbar’s role but also who else might have facilitated or benefited from the diverted funds.
Key Questions Still Unanswered
- Where exactly did the £190 million end up, and who benefited?
- Were senior government figures complicit or simply unaware?
- What mechanisms failed that allowed such a critical national deal to be managed in secrecy?
This scandal is rapidly becoming a litmus test for Pakistan’s accountability framework — and as “Kaptaan’s anger” simmers, the nation watches closely to see if justice will be served or if this, too, will be lost in Pakistan’s long history of elite impunity.
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