A lawyer who two men are accused of conspiring to murder, along with Celtic manager Neil Lennon in an explosives plot, has been found dead.
Paul McBride QC died in his sleep in a hotel in Pakistan, a family spokesman said.
A statement issued by Jack Irvine on behalf of McBride's family on Sunday said: "Paul died in his sleep last night in a hotel in Pakistan and at this time we would ask you to respect the privacy of his family.
"There will be no further statement in the meantime."
Two men are on trial at the high court in Glasgow accused of conspiring to murder McBride, Lennon and former MSP Trish Godman by sending improvised explosive devices to them between 1 March and 15 April last year.
The two accused, Trevor Muirhead, 43, and Neil McKenzie, 42, are also accused of conspiring to murder various people at the republican organisation Cairde na hEireann's premises in Glasgow by sending explosive devices to them.
They deny all charges against them.
McBride, 48, was on a business trip to Lahore with human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar at the time of his death.
Lawyers and politicians paid tribute to him.
Brian McConnachie QC, vice-chair of the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association, said: "Everyone is absolutely stunned and deeply saddened by his death. Paul was very young and had achieved a tremendous amount in such a short space of time and undoubtedly had a great deal more to achieve both legally and no doubt in other fields.
"He was a very gifted lawyer and an incredibly intelligent man. I think a lot of that has perhaps been forgotten or ignored because of his high media profile in recent years in relation to politics and football."
Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: "Cutting short Paul McBride's full and colourful life is so sad. Scotland will be a lesser place without him."
McBride was appointed a QC at the age of 35, said to be the youngest QC ever appointed in the UK. He was called to the Scottish Bar in 1988 and was one of the most highly regarded and highest-profile criminal lawyers in Scotland, involved in the Moira Jones murder trial, the Rosepark care home fire fatal accident inquiry, as well as representing Celtic Football Club.
He was a former member of Labour and the Scottish Conservatives. He left the Scottish Conservatives last June after Ruth Davidson was elected to lead the party.