Karachi : The funeral of former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s elder brother, Shahid Akhtar, has come under the spotlight after senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders, including deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri, were seen attending the ceremony in Islamabad. Shahid Akhtar died on June 24.
A video shared on social media shows several LeT leaders at the funeral held at the H-8 graveyard in Islamabad. Among them was Saifullah Kasuri, whom India has identified as the mastermind of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack. Inam Ur Rehman, president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), the political wing of LeT, was also present.
The presence of wanted terror leaders at a public funeral has raised fresh questions about Pakistan’s handling of banned terrorist groups. Critics say the incident shows that such individuals continue to operate openly in the country. Shoaib Akhtar retired from international cricket in 2011 and now works as a cricket commentator. He has also been part of the commentary panel for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
After the attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and launched Operation Sindoor. The operation targeted what India described as terrorist camps inside Pakistan, as well as military installations from Rawalpindi to Sukkur.
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