£60k legal bill for councillor who took on his accuser
Transport boss denied claims of domestic violence and bigamy
SENIOR Birmingham councillor Waseem Zaffar has been ordered to pay at least £60,000 in legal costs over a bid to silence a resident who accused him of domestic violence, bigamy and dishonesty.
Councillor Zaffar, from Lozells, took out a civil claim for harassment against Asaf Khan in connection with a longrunning Twitter campaign.
In a series of tweets Mr Khan, 47, also from Lozells, made allegations that the councillor had beaten his first wife, misused public funds and committed bigamy.
The case has now ended without trial after Cllr Zaffar withdrew his claim. Both parties agreed to dismiss the case and for Cllr Zaffar to pay the outstanding legal costs of Mr Khan.
Cllr Zaffar said: “The case has taken over my life and impacted on me, my family and my friends and anyone connected with me. It has been the most difficult period of my life.”
He denied any wrongdoing and said he brought the case to a close for financial reasons.
Cllr Zaffar added: “Whenever anyone has looked into these issues I have cooperated fully and will continue to do so. None have led to any wrongdoing proven on my part.”
He said: “I fully believe in scrutiny and accountability of elected officials and those in public life but believe this overstepped the mark substantially.”
Addressing allegations of abusing his first wife, Mr Zaffar said he was unable to discuss his marriage due to a legal agreement mutually signed as part of his divorce proceedings but added: “I can say categorically these allegations of domestic violence are absolutely rubbish.”
He also denied all other allegations by Mr Khan, including bigamy and that he had misused public funds or used public money for personal benefit.
Cllr Zaffar added: “While these accusations have been in the public domain a long time, I have been through vigorous checks by the Labour Party, and rightly so. They found me a fit and proper person to stand. I was elected with a massive mandate by the people of Lozells and I’m really really proud of the mandate I got.”
Claims made by Mr Khan have previously been made to a range of public bodies, including the Labour Party, the Charities Commission and Birmingham City Council.
No action against Cllr Zaffar has resulted.
Mr Khan, a full-time carer to his mother and a distant relative of Mr Zaffar, claimed in his defence documents to the High Court that he was raising the issues in the public domain to hold the councillor to account for what he called his “hypocrisy and untrustworthiness”.
In his defence submission he said he turned to social media only because the Labour Party and Birmingham City Council “ignored his (Mr Zaffar’s) many failings”.
His defence statement claimed: “I rely upon my Freedom of Expression incorporated in Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
“Although (Mr Zaffar) has tried to claim that he has been harassed by me, he has not.”
It added: “West Midlands Police and CPS reviewed over 50,000+ of my tweets, and cleared and exonerated me of any wrongdoing.”
Mr Khan is currently suspended from the Labour Party. He now intends to demand his suspension is lifted.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “The council is aware that Cllr Waseem Zaffar had issued legal proceedings, in his personal capacity, in relation to alleged harassment and has now decided to bring these to a conclusion. Allegations made against Cllr Zaffar, referred to in the same proceedings, have been reviewed by the council’s solicitor. There are no concerns about Cllr Zaffar in relation to them.”
Cllr Zaffar was born and brought up in Lozells, Birmingham. He is the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council. Formerly a magistrate, he was made an MBE for services to the voluntary sector.