LONDON: Two masked men posing as delivery riders allegedly targeted a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz used by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif outside his Avenfield apartments in central London.
The incident involved damage to the vehicles and the removal of several parts. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials have described it as a suspected politically motivated attack. However, police have not independently confirmed any political motive.
CCTV footage shared on X by PML-N Youth Wing leader Khurram Butt shows two individuals arriving on motorcycles around midnight. Both appeared to wear masks and gloves before approaching the vehicles parked outside the former prime minister’s residence.
Nawaz is currently in London on a week-long visit for medical check-ups. His sons, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, are accompanying him.
CCTV Footage Shared With London Police
According to Butt, the suspects removed four items from the vehicles and damaged at least one rear-view mirror. The combined value of the BMW and Mercedes-Benz is estimated at around £200,000, although the financial loss has not been independently verified.
The footage shows seven to 10 other vehicles parked along the same road. However, only the two vehicles associated with Nawaz appear to have been targeted in the recording.
The vehicles are usually parked inside the Avenfield property. Ongoing renovation work has restricted access to the usual parking facilities, forcing them onto the public road.
Butt said the CCTV footage had been handed over to the Metropolitan Police, which was investigating the incident.
PML-N Officials Suspect Political Motive
PML-N UK President Ahsan Dar alleged that the incident appeared to be politically motivated rather than an ordinary vehicle theft.
He said the apparent selection of the two vehicles, despite several others being parked nearby, raised questions about the suspects’ intentions.
However, the suspects’ identities and motives remain unknown. No independently confirmed police finding has established that the incident was politically motivated.
Butt also said the incident was concerning because vehicles associated with Nawaz had reportedly been targeted in London before.
Previous Incidents Involving the Sharif Family
In May 2023, a vehicle associated with Nawaz was damaged during a confrontation involving Black Lives Matter protesters and police in central London. A protester reportedly threw coffee at the vehicle and kicked it.
The Sharif family has also faced several other security-related incidents in the British capital.
In July 2018, protesters attempted to force their way into the family’s Avenfield residence. Police were called after demonstrators tried to breach the entrance. Confrontations between rival political supporters also led to arrests.
In May 2021, four unidentified men reportedly attempted to enter the London office of Nawaz’s son Hasan Nawaz while the former prime minister was inside. Three of the men were said to be wearing masks. The incident was reported to police, while PML-N leaders alleged that the men had intended to attack Nawaz.
Another confrontation took place outside Nawaz’s London office in April 2022. A security guard was injured, and police confirmed receiving an assault complaint.
Vehicle Registration Fraud Reported in 2023
Nawaz was also linked to an alleged vehicle registration fraud in London in March and April 2023. Three vehicles were reportedly registered in his name and at his Avenfield residence without his knowledge or consent.
The matter emerged after the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sent registration documents to his London address.
On April 11, 2023, Transport for London (TfL) also issued a penalty charge notice in Nawaz’s name over a traffic violation near Buckingham Palace involving one of the vehicles.
His office reported the incidents to police and the DVLA, prompting a fraud investigation. The DVLA later confirmed that Nawaz’s details had been removed from the vehicle records.
