A sensitive controversy has emerged following videos shared widely on social media, showing senior figures allegedly linked to the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) attending the funeral of Shahid Akhtar, the elder brother of former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, in Islamabad. What was meant to be a private family farewell has unexpectedly drawn intense public and political scrutiny, especially in India.
Shahid Akhtar recently passed away and was laid to rest in Islamabad’s H-8 graveyard. Funerals are often moments of quiet reflection and mourning, but this one became the focus of international attention when footage surfaced showing individuals with controversial backgrounds present at the event.
Among those reportedly attending was Saifullah Kasuri, whom Indian authorities accuse of being the deputy chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the mastermind behind the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. That attack tragically claimed 25 lives and severely strained India-Pakistan relations, leading to military retaliation and diplomatic fallout. Another person seen in the videos is Inam Ur Rehman, president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a party widely believed to be a front for LeT.
The presence of such figures at the funeral has reignited debates about how freely individuals linked to internationally banned groups appear to operate in Pakistan. Many have expressed concern and frustration on social media, questioning how those wanted by Indian authorities could attend such a public event without apparent consequences.
However, it’s important to separate this controversy from Shoaib Akhtar himself. So far, there is no evidence that he invited or had any connection to the attendance of these individuals. Many experts and media reports have noted that funerals for well-known people often attract diverse crowds, and it may not be fair to hold Akhtar personally responsible.
Neither Shoaib Akhtar nor Pakistani officials have commented publicly on the situation yet, and details about the attendees remain unclear.
This incident unfolds amid already tense India-Pakistan relations following the Pahalgam attack and subsequent military and diplomatic responses. As the videos keep circulating, they add a new dimension to ongoing conversations about terrorism, accountability, and the challenge of enforcing bans on such organizations.
For now, the focus has shifted from a family’s loss to a wider geopolitical debate, leaving many questions about how such controversial figures are allowed such public visibility. Whether this will lead to official action or statements remains uncertain, but it’s clear that a personal moment of grief has become a flashpoint in a complex and sensitive regional issue.
