Justice for father of murdered boy
As a Member of Parliament, you get the opportunity to experience many things and become involved in some harrowing personal stories. Nothing has moved me more on a personal level than working with Iftikhar Ahmad to get justice for his murdered son, Shahryar.
The Observer has covered this long story, reporting the various twists and turns, over the past years. Iftikhar made Stirling his home after leaving Pakistan due to death threats from those suspected of the crime. His remaining family were at that time unable to come to the UK.
I started working with Iftikhar in the first month of becoming an MP. I remember realising very quickly just how complex the situation was and the bureaucracy we would need to overcome to get a successful outcome. I also recall from that first meeting how nice a person Iftikhar is. This was a man whose young son was brutally murdered by a gang in Pakistan and woke up every day knowing that his wife and children were now facing threats from the same people. He was determined to get his family out of danger and to keep campaigning for justice. Calmly and with great dignity he pursued those goals despite many setbacks.
Iftikhar’s case has shown me personally what an MPs office can achieve. My office had to break down the case and create a plan which we felt would be the most effective to get the outcome that we all wanted. Guaranteeing the safety of his family by getting them out of Pakistan and into the United Kingdom had to be the top priority. After discussions with the Home Office, including senior ministers, Iftikhar’s family moved to Stirling. Seeing them reunited was a poignant and moving moment I will not forget.
As soon as Iftikhar’s family was safely in the UK, I raised the case in the House of Commons where I received great support from many of my colleagues. We also began working with the Foreign Office to put pressure on the Pakistani authorities. A meeting was arranged with the Minister of State. I cannot thank the Foreign and Commonwealth Office enough for all their help behind the scenes. As British citizens we are fortunate to have a comprehensive and professional diplomatic network. The diplomatic team within the Foreign Office do most of their work behind the scenes without many plaudits. They do a superb job.
One of the benefits of our parliamentary voting system is that every individual MP is accountable to each and every one of their constituents and when needed will support them in difficult situations. Iftikhar’s case saw me work with the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office but I regularly work with other Government departments, Stirling Council and many other organisations. Since being elected just over two years ago, my office has worked on more than 11,000 cases on a huge range of issues.
The role of an MP in the constituency can often be drowned out by the politics but it is arguably the most important thing we do. Working with people such as Iftikhar, a man of courage, resilience and patience, is a privilege and a very humbling experience. That patience and resolution was rewarded recently when those accused of his sons murder were finally bought to trial and found guilty.
Fortunately cases such as this are rare but there are many people with important matters they need to resolve. My office will continue to do everything it can to help and will always prioritise that work. Please do get in touch if you think I may be able to assist in any way.