Birmingham Father and Son Among Group Facing Trial Over Alleged Plot to Attack Pakistani Dissidents
A father and son from Birmingham are among a group of men facing trial over an alleged plot to attack two prominent Pakistani dissidents at their homes in the United Kingdom. The targets are identified as human rights lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar and journalist Adil Raja, both vocal critics of the Pakistani government.
Details of the Alleged Christmas Eve Attacks
According to court proceedings, the alleged plan involved hired attackers simultaneously targeting the homes of Mr. Akbar and Mr. Raja on Christmas Eve last year. While Mr. Raja was not at home during the incident, Mr. Akbar reportedly answered his door and was punched repeatedly in the face. The attacks are said to have been coordinated as part of a broader conspiracy.
Charges and Defendants Involved
The defendants facing charges include Asif Afsar, 40; Mark Regan, 54; his son, Louis Regan, 25; Karl Scott Blackbird, 40; and Liam McGarry, 25. They are charged with conspiracy to assault and occasion actual bodily harm to Mr. Akbar between December 9 and December 25, 2025. Additionally, the two Regans, Afsar, and Blackbird, along with Clark Anthony McAulay, 39, face similar conspiracy charges related to Mr. Raja.
All defendants appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing before Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb. The judge has scheduled a plea hearing for July 17 at the Old Bailey and a provisional trial at Birmingham Crown Court starting April 6 next year. The Regans and Afsar, from Birmingham, along with Blackbird and McAulay from Coventry and McGarry from Warwick, were remanded into custody following the hearing.
Additional Charges in a Separate New Year's Eve Incident
In a related development, another defendant, Doneto Brammer, 21, from Wood Green in north London, is charged over a second incident on New Year's Eve last year. It is alleged that Mr. Akbar's home was set on fire during this event, and Brammer was found carrying a firearm. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited weapon, described as a revolver.
Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb indicated that Brammer's case would be heard separately, with a provisional trial set for June 6, 2027, at Birmingham Crown Court. Brammer was also remanded into custody, and all defendants appeared in court via video-link during the proceedings.
Background of the Targeted Dissidents
Mirza Shahzad Akbar previously served as a member of the cabinet under jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan. Adil Raja is an outspoken critic of the current Pakistani government and has written extensively about alleged corruption within the country's military. Their roles as dissidents have made them targets in these alleged attacks, highlighting ongoing tensions related to Pakistani politics and human rights issues.
The case underscores the serious nature of the charges, with multiple defendants from the Birmingham area and beyond involved in what authorities describe as a coordinated plot against individuals exercising their right to free speech and advocacy.
