The United Kingdom police have officially closed their investigation into the acid attack on Shahzad Akbar, the former federal minister and ex-adviser to deposed prime minister Imran Khan.
The attack, which occurred last year, has left authorities without identifying any suspects. A police source linked with counter-terrorism policing revealed, "We have explored all lines of enquiry and have not been able to identify any suspects."
This revelation comes after months of dedicated effort by the Hertfordshire Constabulary, the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Hertfordshire where Akbar resides.
The complexity of the case was emphasised by the Hertfordshire Constabulary, stating, "Since November, officers have been working hard to try and trace those involved.
On this occasion, we have explored all lines of enquiry and have not been able to identify any suspects." Despite extensive efforts, no conclusive leads have been uncovered.
Sources close to the investigation disclosed that multiple avenues were pursued, including the review of hours of footage from entry and exit points in the local area of Royston, where the attack took place.
However, these efforts yielded no suspects, and forensic analysis failed to provide significant leads, leading to the decision to close the investigation.
The incident in question transpired in November last year when Akbar was reportedly assaulted at his residence in Royston, sustaining injuries from an acidic substance. Following the attack, Akbar had expressed concerns about his safety, having informed law enforcement authorities in the UK about potential threats due to his new address being known to the Pakistani government.
In a bold move, Akbar recently announced legal action against the Government of Pakistan over the acid attack. He alleges that several Pakistani government officials were responsible for orchestrating the assault, a claim vehemently denied by the Pakistani government.
In response to the closure of the criminal inquiry by UK police, Akbar stated, "I have already made it public who is responsible for the attack on me, perpetrated at the best of Pakistani government. The criminal inquiry may be closed, but I have recourse to civil action, which I have already started."
