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The funeral of Shahid Akhtar, the elder brother of former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, has come under scrutiny after several individuals linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were reportedly seen attending the ceremony in Islamabad.
Shahid Akhtar passed away on June 24 and was buried at Islamabad’s H-8 graveyard. Videos shared on social media allegedly show Lashkar-e-Taiba deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri among those present during the funeral prayers. The footage has sparked discussion over the public presence of members associated with banned terrorist groups in Pakistan.
Among the attendees was also Inam Ur Rehman, president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political organisation that is widely considered to be linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The PMML was founded by Hafiz Saeed after organisations such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Milli Muslim League (MML) faced sanctions at both the domestic and international levels.
The appearance of senior LeT figures at a public gathering has renewed concerns about the visibility and influence of proscribed organisations within Pakistan. Security analysts quoted by IANS said the incident reflects the continued ability of such groups to operate openly despite being officially banned.
Kasuri has remained a controversial figure due to his repeated anti-India rhetoric. He was reportedly associated with inflammatory remarks made after the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 25 tourists lost their lives.
Following the attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and launched Operation Sindoor, a military campaign aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Indian authorities stated that the operation targeted multiple terror facilities, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s headquarters in Muridke, and struck several military sites across Pakistan. Officials claimed the action significantly weakened the operational capabilities of LeT and other Pakistan-based terror outfits.
Despite these developments, Kasuri has continued to issue threats against India. In a video that surfaced earlier this year, he allegedly warned of retaliation and referred to what he described as India’s “water terrorism”, a remark seen as a reference to New Delhi’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.
Shoaib Akhtar, popularly known as the “Rawalpindi Express”, retired from international cricket in 2011. The former speedster remains a prominent voice in the sport and regularly appears as a commentator and analyst during major cricket tournaments.