- Tasnim Haider accused Sharif and his loyalists of being involved in the conspiracy.
- Metropolitan Police conduct 'assessment exercise' to evaluate charges
- Scotland Yard's 18-month investigation has found no credibility in the allegations.
LONDON: Scotland Yard has decided not to investigate former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif and their colleagues after allegations were levelled against them linking them to the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and a gun attack on PTI founder Imran Khan in Wazirabad about two years ago.
Scotland Yard has reported Geo News that The Anti-Terrorism Command Unit has decided not to launch an investigation after establishing that there are no grounds to launch a formal inquiry as whistleblower Sayed Tasnim Haider failed to provide evidence to support his allegations against the Sharifs and their colleagues Mian Saleem Raza, Nasir Mahmood, Zubair Gull and Rashid Nasrullah.
In November 2022, prominent UK-based PML-N activist Haider made headlines when he claimed that he had evidence that Sharifs, Mahmood, Raza, Gull and Nasrullah were involved in preparing an assassination plot against Arshad in London, that year on the day of Eid, 8 July 2022.
In response to Haider's allegations, the Metropolitan Police launched what it called a “scoping exercise” to assess the allegations and examine the evidence.
Haider had made the allegations at a press conference in London with his lawyer Mahtab Anwar Aziz and both had attended the police station and media talks to stress that there is enough evidence for the case linking the Sharifs and their colleagues.
The police took the allegations so seriously that Scotland Yard's Central West Command Unit passed the matter on to its Counter Terrorism Command Unit, SO15.
After an evaluation that lasted almost 18 months, the police have reported Geo news “They will not launch an investigation here in the UK” due to lack of evidence.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Geo news“In November 2022, the Metropolitan Police received reports from a whistleblower relating to allegations of conspiracy to commit murder in Pakistan and Kenya.
“The information was initially reviewed by officers from the Central West Command Unit, but due to the nature of the allegations, including the international aspect of them, the matter was transferred to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. Specialist detectives carried out a full and thorough review of the allegations and the information provided to determine whether an investigation should be launched.”
Police confirmed that the “exploratory exercise” has been completed and that “it was determined that there were insufficient grounds to initiate an investigation here in the UK and therefore no further action will be taken. The complainant has now been informed of this outcome.”
The police source said the first complaint was filed in London on November 5, 2022, alleging that Nawaz and Maryam had ordered an attack on Imran from London.
The complaint was filed by solicitor Aziz, from Central Chambers Law, at Charing Police Station. Police said they had taken no action on the complaint because no evidence had been produced.
Former Prime Minister Imran was shot and injured on November 1, 2022 when a suspect, standing in front of the container carrying the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and senior party leaders, fired a volley of bullets from an automatic pistol when the party's 'Haqeeqi Azadi' march reached Wazirabad's Allahwala Chowk.
On November 20 of that year, Haider addressed Aziz at a press conference in his office and again stated that the police were investigating the case and that they had handed over evidence to the police on three occasions.
He said: “We gave evidence to the police on 5 November, 10 November and 19 November. I handed over the evidence through Mahtab Anwar Aziz to Scotland Yard on Friday 18 and 19 November, before holding the press conference on Sunday 20 November 2022.”
Haider had claimed that the plan to attack Arshad was made in London and on September 20, 2022, a colleague of Nawaz asked him to provide shooters in Kenya to attack Arshad.
He also claimed that he was aware of the alleged plan to attack Imran and Arshad and that he saw footage of Arshad being tortured at the PML-N office in London while Nawaz was there.
Told that the police had completed the assessment with no further action, Haider said: Geo news“I am aware that the case has been closed. I stand by what I said. The police here told me that their hands are tied. They told me that they cannot do anything in this case. I would like to emphasise that Mian Saleem Raza, Nasir Mahmood and others were involved. All of them have criminal records.
“Mian Saleem Raza is the one who originally blackmailed Judge Arshad Malik and convinced him to join the case. Others named in the case were undoubtedly involved, but the system is protecting them. I am now in touch with the Kenyan government over the Arshad Sharif case,” he added.
Mahtab Aziz did not respond to questions.
