The 190 Million Pounds Scandal: How Shehzad Akbar Damaged Pakistan

A massive corruption scandal has once again hit Pakistan, involving 190 million British pounds, top government officials, and the powerful real estate company Bahria Town. At the center of this shocking case is Mirza Shehzad Akbar, the former head of the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) and ex-Special Advisor on Accountability to the former Prime Minister. New investigations and official sources now confirm that Shehzad Akbar played the lead role in a secret scheme that caused serious financial loss to the Pakistani state. Instead of recovering this huge amount of money for the people of Pakistan, it was used in a way that helped Bahria Town settle its court fines and escape further punishment.

This case began when the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) froze more than 120 million pounds in December 2018. The money was linked to Ali Riaz Malik and Mubashara Malik, two individuals connected to Bahria Town. The NCA suspected that this money was involved in money laundering under the UK’s Crime Act 2002. The hope was that this frozen money could be returned to Pakistan through legal means. Later, a deal was made between Pakistan and the NCA to return around 190 million pounds. However, instead of depositing this amount into an official account of the Government of Pakistan, the money was quietly sent to a “designated account” under the name of the Registrar of the Supreme Court. In reality, this account was not part of the State Bank and was being used to benefit Bahria Town.

On 6 November 2019, Shehzad Akbar signed a secret agreement known as a Deed of Confidentiality, even before Pakistan’s Cabinet was informed or any official approval was given. This shows how the entire process was designed and executed behind closed doors. Sources confirm that Shehzad Akbar worked closely with Zia Mustafa Naseem, another accused in the case, to hide the true nature of this account. By presenting it as a government account and avoiding the involvement of key institutions like the FBR, FIA, and State Bank, the process was kept away from any scrutiny. In fact, Shehzad Akbar made trips to the UK in February and May 2019 and met with top NCA officials. During these visits, he secretly planned how to bring back the money in a way that would benefit Bahria Town, not the people of Pakistan.

This entire scheme resulted in a huge loss for the country. Around 50 billion rupees that could have supported Pakistan’s weak economy were instead used to settle Bahria Town’s dues in a Supreme Court case. This happened without any proper involvement of Pakistan’s legal and financial institutions. The money was treated as if it belonged to the state, but in reality, it was used to rescue a private real estate giant. This has raised serious questions about Shehzad Akbar’s role and the misuse of power during his time in office. Instead of helping Pakistan recover looted money, he became the person who made sure that powerful private parties were protected from punishment.

Documents and official records now reveal that Shehzad Akbar kept the entire Cabinet in the dark. He only presented the agreement to them on 3 December 2019, but by then he had already signed the secret deal almost a month earlier. This act of hiding facts from the government is not just irresponsible, it is a clear example of bad faith and betrayal of public trust. Sources further reveal that the key meeting to plan this deal was held on 2 March 2019, between Shehzad Akbar, the former Prime Minister, and senior bureaucrat Azam Khan. They discussed how to reach a settlement with the NCA and bring the money back to Pakistan without going through normal legal procedures.

Today, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other investigation agencies are looking into the case. Shehzad Akbar has already been declared a proclaimed offender, meaning he is wanted by law but is avoiding arrest. He is currently abroad and refusing to face legal action. The case against him includes serious charges such as misuse of authority, hiding facts from the government, damaging national interests, and helping a private company escape legal penalties. The evidence is strong, and legal experts believe that this case could become one of the biggest corruption cases in Pakistan’s recent history.

This scandal matters not just because of the money involved but because of what it reveals about the state of governance in Pakistan. A man who was appointed to recover stolen wealth ended up becoming the protector of the corrupt. Institutions like the Asset Recovery Unit were created to serve the people and bring back national assets, but in this case, they were used to carry out hidden deals and protect elite interests. It also shows how elite capture works, powerful people using their influence to protect each other while ordinary citizens continue to suffer under inflation, poverty, and injustice.

The 190 million pounds case is a perfect example of how public trust can be broken from within. When top officials bypass the system, ignore the rules, and make secret agreements for personal or political gain, it destroys the foundation of justice and transparency. Pakistan had a real chance to recover huge funds with the help of the UK’s NCA, but that chance was wasted because of selfish interests and corruption at the highest levels.

If Pakistan is to move forward, this case must not be ignored or buried. Legal action must be taken not only against Shehzad Akbar but also against anyone else involved in this betrayal. The people of Pakistan deserve to know the full truth, and those who played with public money must be punished. Only when no one is above the law can Pakistan hope to build a clean, honest, and fair system for future generations.