Wednesday 02 May, 2012
By: Alia Tabassum
When I heard the news that Lord Nazir Ahmed claimed of 10 million pound bounty for capture of Obama, my first reaction was that he has been misquoted. Later on it was proved as the newspaper accepted that it was an error of reporting but very surprisingly Lord Ahmed was suspended from his party.
Lord Nazir Ahmed started his career as a local Labour Party Councillor and in 1998 became first Muslim life peer as Barron Ahmed of Rotherham and also became the youngest peer to achieve this position. During his career he has been very vocal for Kashmir, a disputed area between Pakistan and India. He has been emphasizing to eliminate the racism on the basis of ethnicity and religion; no doubt he is an asset for the party, house of lord and for England.
Lord Nazir’s last visit to Pakistan wasn’t proved brilliant for him as a local newspaper published a news that Lord Nazir Ahmed has offered a reward of 10 million pound for the capture of Obama and his predecessor George W Bush. Later on not only Lord Ahmed denied the allegations but also the newspaper accepted it as the error of reporting. Lord Ahmed also said that he never offered a bounty but he said that there have been war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for those crimes George W Bush and Tony Blair should be brought to justice.
As the newspaper has itself denied what was reported so that was not the matter of such importance which could lead to his suspension. As far the prosecution of former President George W Bush and Tony Blair is concerned many people in England thinks the same. I had a talk to a Church Priest, a very sensible and religious man he also thinks that USA has lost all of its sympathies after 9/11. After the incident of 9/11 the whole world was with USA and if USA hasn’t done any military adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan then the world would be more peaceful and united against terrorism. This hasty decision has affected US reputation.
To my mind suspension of Lord Nazir Ahmed is another example of hasty decision as the Express Tribune has already offered a clarification that the statement was misquoted and the newspaper regretted its mistake. Party’s decision to suspend the Lord Nazir is damaging for the party reputation. The great number of people from Pakistan is associated with Labour Party just because of Lord Nazir. Prompt suspension does make sense but when there isn’t any solid evidence to support the allegation secondly the accuser itself denied it’s reporting and thirdly when Lord Nazir’s speech is disclosed then what’s stopping the Labour Party to reinstate his member in order to avoid notoriety to the party.
In this incident the role of the said newspaper is really irresponsible but it does make sense in the area like Haripur in Pakistan, as many regional correspondents use such stunts to make the lead story or some times they send the stories for publication without conformation, as I was told that the said correspondent wasn’t there in the event at all. But the role of the Daily Telegraph is more then shocking as it quote Lord of his country as a controversial personality. Further in news it was said that Lord Ahmed had criticized the honoring of Salman Rushdie with knighthood and also that he had a car crash on M1 because of dangerous driving. The substance of this news surrounds these three things including his suspension and on these bases he is granted a controversial person by the reporter. The news that caused for his suspension is denied from the newspaper itself, secondly reporter of Telegraph has some misunderstanding about Salman Rushdie it wasn’t Lord Nazir it’s Mr. Rushdie who is controversial person because of his “achievements” as Lord Nazir is very much correct that UK wants to build bridges between Muslims and Christians or Muslims and England and on other hand the man like Rushdie who hurts the feeling of the Muslims is honoured with knighthood award. Dangerous driving and texting while driving is an offence, member of the house of Lord was jailed and was made to face the court. It doesn’t make anybody a controversial personality because of he had dangerous driving in past. He was born in Pakistan but came to England when he was just seven years old; he is British now but Britain need to accept him with heart not just because he is holding a British passport.
The action of labour party can create more distance between the communities. Lord Ahmed has challenged the party to present the proof to support his suspension, now it’s the party’s turn and everybody is hoping that the party of the multi cultural country will make quick and fair decision.
(Published in The Capital Post USA)
By: Alia Tabassum
When I heard the news that Lord Nazir Ahmed claimed of 10 million pound bounty for capture of Obama, my first reaction was that he has been misquoted. Later on it was proved as the newspaper accepted that it was an error of reporting but very surprisingly Lord Ahmed was suspended from his party.
Lord Nazir Ahmed started his career as a local Labour Party Councillor and in 1998 became first Muslim life peer as Barron Ahmed of Rotherham and also became the youngest peer to achieve this position. During his career he has been very vocal for Kashmir, a disputed area between Pakistan and India. He has been emphasizing to eliminate the racism on the basis of ethnicity and religion; no doubt he is an asset for the party, house of lord and for England.
Lord Nazir’s last visit to Pakistan wasn’t proved brilliant for him as a local newspaper published a news that Lord Nazir Ahmed has offered a reward of 10 million pound for the capture of Obama and his predecessor George W Bush. Later on not only Lord Ahmed denied the allegations but also the newspaper accepted it as the error of reporting. Lord Ahmed also said that he never offered a bounty but he said that there have been war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for those crimes George W Bush and Tony Blair should be brought to justice.
As the newspaper has itself denied what was reported so that was not the matter of such importance which could lead to his suspension. As far the prosecution of former President George W Bush and Tony Blair is concerned many people in England thinks the same. I had a talk to a Church Priest, a very sensible and religious man he also thinks that USA has lost all of its sympathies after 9/11. After the incident of 9/11 the whole world was with USA and if USA hasn’t done any military adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan then the world would be more peaceful and united against terrorism. This hasty decision has affected US reputation.
To my mind suspension of Lord Nazir Ahmed is another example of hasty decision as the Express Tribune has already offered a clarification that the statement was misquoted and the newspaper regretted its mistake. Party’s decision to suspend the Lord Nazir is damaging for the party reputation. The great number of people from Pakistan is associated with Labour Party just because of Lord Nazir. Prompt suspension does make sense but when there isn’t any solid evidence to support the allegation secondly the accuser itself denied it’s reporting and thirdly when Lord Nazir’s speech is disclosed then what’s stopping the Labour Party to reinstate his member in order to avoid notoriety to the party.
In this incident the role of the said newspaper is really irresponsible but it does make sense in the area like Haripur in Pakistan, as many regional correspondents use such stunts to make the lead story or some times they send the stories for publication without conformation, as I was told that the said correspondent wasn’t there in the event at all. But the role of the Daily Telegraph is more then shocking as it quote Lord of his country as a controversial personality. Further in news it was said that Lord Ahmed had criticized the honoring of Salman Rushdie with knighthood and also that he had a car crash on M1 because of dangerous driving. The substance of this news surrounds these three things including his suspension and on these bases he is granted a controversial person by the reporter. The news that caused for his suspension is denied from the newspaper itself, secondly reporter of Telegraph has some misunderstanding about Salman Rushdie it wasn’t Lord Nazir it’s Mr. Rushdie who is controversial person because of his “achievements” as Lord Nazir is very much correct that UK wants to build bridges between Muslims and Christians or Muslims and England and on other hand the man like Rushdie who hurts the feeling of the Muslims is honoured with knighthood award. Dangerous driving and texting while driving is an offence, member of the house of Lord was jailed and was made to face the court. It doesn’t make anybody a controversial personality because of he had dangerous driving in past. He was born in Pakistan but came to England when he was just seven years old; he is British now but Britain need to accept him with heart not just because he is holding a British passport.
The action of labour party can create more distance between the communities. Lord Ahmed has challenged the party to present the proof to support his suspension, now it’s the party’s turn and everybody is hoping that the party of the multi cultural country will make quick and fair decision.
(Published in The Capital Post USA)
