Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is now facing backlash after videos from his brother’s funeral surfaced online. The clips showed that individuals associated with the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political outfit that has reported links to the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), attended the funeral of his elder brother Shahid Akhtar.
The persons seen in the clip include close associates of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind 26/11 and the founder of LeT.
The clip was shared online by the PMML.
Other individuals in the video include PMML's Islamabad chief, Inam-ur-Rehman Kamboh Abdullah Toor, the PMML's deputy general secretary, Hafiz Umar, PMML's zonal general secretary, Amjad Bhatti, chairman of the Khidmat Committee, Talha Saeed, and the son of Hafiz Saeed, who is a member of the PMML, was also seen at the funeral.
Lashkar militant Saifullah Kasuri, who is suspected to be the mastermind behind the 2025 attack in Pahalga, was also reportedly seen at the funeral.
The clips showed the people praying during the funeral ceremony,
Shahid Akhtar died three days ago due to a cardiac arrest, Pakistani media reported.
Shoaib Akhtar took to social media to confirm the death "I'm very saddened to share that my beloved older brother, Shahid Akhtar, has returned to Allah Subhana wa Taala. Namaz-e-Janaza time & place will be informed in the morning," he shared.
The attendees of the individual associated with terrorist groups confirm the long-standing theory that they are free to operate in Pakistan openly.
India has been flagging terrorists sponsored by Pakistan over the decades and has questioned Islamabad’s failure to act against terror outfits operating in the neighbouring country. A US report in march 25 by the Congressional Research Service also reiterated that Pakistan was a safe haven for a terror organistion that targets India. They said that Pakistan failed to take "sufficient action to stop certain terrorist groups and individuals from openly operating in the country."
Shoaib Akhtar is known for being the fastest bowler in cricket history. He retired from cricket in 2011 and has also worked as a commentator in the IPL.
