Member of Chambers Profile
When appointed Junior Treasury Counsel in 1997, Aftab became the first member of any ethnic minority to be so appointed in the one hundred and thirty year history of Treasury Counsel. He was appointed Senior Treasury Counsel just four years later. Aftab appears primarily at the Central Criminal Court, dealing with a wide range of some of the most high-profile cases in the country. They include terrorism, secrets, murder, corruption, and homicide-related medical negligence. Notable cases have included the Greek Embassy Siege, the Afghan Airlines Hijack, and the British Aerospace Secrets trials. Homicide cases have included the first British cannibal killings, and most recently, the Ministry of Sound murder, and the honour killing of Geeta Aulakh.
In addition to being renowned as a formidable cross-examiner, Aftab is regularly instructed to argue matters of law in the Appellate jurisdiction, including the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords (Supreme Court). He has recently successfully intervened in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), reinforcing the scope and availability of Private prosecutions. His Defence practice, to which he will be returning at the beginning of 2011 (having been appointed Queen's Counsel in 2008), includes both trial and advisory work concerning allegations of fraud and other financial irregularities.
Aftab has been instrumental in the development of the presentation of complex mobile phone and cell site evidence, and in 2010 his template was adopted nationally by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Aftab is a past committee member of the Criminal Bar Association, and of the Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar.
In 2006 Aftab was listed in The Times as being one of the country's top ten criminal barristers at/under the age of fifty.