A new controversy has arisen regarding the funeral of Shahid Akhtar, elder brother of former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. In the videos and pictures going viral on social media, the presence of some people said to be associated with the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba is being claimed. After these pictures surfaced, questions have once again started being raised about the public presence of terrorists in Pakistan and the alleged protection they receive.
Shahid Akhtar died on 24 June. After this, he was laid to rest in H-8 cemetery of Islamabad. Many people associated with sports, politics and social fields attended the funeral. Meanwhile, in the video that went viral, it has been claimed to be present of Lashkar-e-Taiba deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri and some leaders associated with Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML). However, these videos and photographs could not be independently verified.
Who is Saifullah Kasuri and why is he in the news?
Indian security agencies consider Saifullah Kasuri to be one of the key conspirators of the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April 2025. 25 tourists were killed in this attack. India had taken many strict steps after the attack. These included suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and action against terrorist hideouts under Operation Sindoor. India has long been accusing Pakistan of giving protection to terrorists.
Who else is claiming to be seen at the funeral?
In the viral video and pictures, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) Islamabad President Inam-ur-Rehman Kamboh and many other leaders are claimed to be seen. There have been allegations for a long time about PMML that it is a political platform of people associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. It is noteworthy that there are international sanctions on many organizations associated with Hafiz Saeed, a terrorist declared by the United Nations.
Will questions be raised again on the open presence of terrorists in Pakistan?
Claims of presence of people allegedly associated with banned organizations at the funeral have once again sparked debate on Pakistan’s role. Many countries, including India, have already accused Pakistan of not taking adequate action against terrorist networks operating on its soil. The alleged presence of such people in public programs has again brought these allegations into discussion.
Has there been any reaction from Shoaib Akhtar or the Government of Pakistan?
Till now, there has been no official response from Shoaib Akhtar or his family on this controversy. At the same time, the Pakistan government has also not issued any statement regarding the viral videos and pictures. In such a situation, official confirmation of these claims is awaited. However, this issue has become an increasingly discussed topic on social media.