Senedd unites to pay tribute to a much-loved political pioneer
Tributes continued to pour in yesterday following the sudden death of Mohammad Asghar, the Senedd’s first ethnic minority member, as Adam Hale and Robert Lloyd report
‘AS BOTH Wales’ first Muslim councillor and first ethnic minority member of the Senedd, Mohammad Asghar was an extremely significant figure in Welsh politics.”
These are the words of Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart on hearing of the death of 74-year-old politician Mr Asghar.
The MS for South Wales East died on Tuesday, his party said, after he was taken to hospital following a medical emergency.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called to reports of a medical emergency at an address in Newport on Tuesday, June 16, at approximately 11.19am.
“We sent two rapid response cars and two emergency ambulances to the scene, where we were assisted by colleagues from Gwent Police.”
The Welsh Conservative was born in what is now Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1945 and moved to London as an adult to complete a Master of Business Administration qualification before settling in Newport and working as an accountant.
In 2004, he became Wales’ first Muslim councillor, representing the Victoria Ward in Newport. In 2007 he became the first Muslim AM to be elected to the Senedd, and he most recently served on its Public Accounts plus Economy, Infrastructure and Skills committees.
His daughter Natasha Asghar, who is a presenter for the QVC shopping channel, said on Twitter on Tuesday night: “Today by far has been the worst day of my life. I lost the first man I ever loved forever.
“The man who taught me to walk, crack terrible jokes, do whatever I had to to achieve my goals and do anything for one’s family. I cannot imagine life without you. I love you.”
Mr Asghar had “contributed so much to his community and the country since settling here as a young man,” said Mr Hart, who added: “His loss is terrible news. He will be fondly remembered and I would like to pay my condolences to Mohammad’s family, friends and constituents.”
A statement from the Senedd’s Llywydd, Elin Jones MS, said: “I am so saddened by the sudden death of our dear colleague Mohammad Asghar.
“He will be missed by all in our Senedd. He was a friend to all across parties and was a true champion of his region and his country.”
Flags outside Senedd buildings were lowered on Tuesday evening, while tributes to Mr Asghar were made by MSs during yesterday’s virtual plenary session following a minute’s silence in his memory.
The Llywydd described the news about “one of the characters of the Senedd” as “desperately sad” and a “cruel unexpected blow”.
Paul Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “It’s with the heaviest of hearts that I make this contribution today. Mohammad Asghar – or Oscar as we all knew him – was a man of immense warmth and kindness, a man who embraced us all with such profound respect, a man whose life was dedicated to enriching and supporting those around him, and a man who, so full of life himself, did so much to help people across Wales.”
Sending condolences to Mr Asghar’s family, First Minister Mark Drakeford paid tribute to his “indefatigable” contribution and ability to combine “the personal and political that was unique to him and will be uniquely missed”.
The chairman of the Welsh Conservatives, Lord Byron Davies of Gower, said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend and former Senedd colleague Mohammad Asghar, who was affectionately known as Oscar. He was a valued and very active member of the Welsh Conservative family and my heartfelt condolences go to his wife Firdaus and daughter Natasha.”
Sarah Atherton, Conservative MP for Wrexham, tweeted: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Mohammad Asghar. He will be fondly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.”
Mr Asghar, also a qualified pilot who spoke Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu fluently, was previously a member of Plaid Cymru before he defected to the Tories in 2009, becoming the first member of the Senedd to leave one party to join another. He was re-elected to the Senedd as a Tory in 2011.
He was a massive cricket fan who campaigned for Wales to have its own team, which he described as a “pressing need”.
Calling Mr Asghar “generous and genial to his core”, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “On behalf of myself and Plaid Cymru, I send sincere condolences to the family and friends of
Mohammad Asghar. We remember Oscar for his dedication to the people of South Wales East and his long service in the Senedd.”
Education Minister Kirsty Williams, said: “So very sorry to learn of the passing of Mohammad Asghar MS. Deepest sympathy to his family, friends and Welsh Conservative colleagues at the Senedd.”
Jeff Cuthbert, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, said: “I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Mohammad (Oscar) Ashgar MS.
“Oscar was the first ethnic monitory member of the Senedd and I worked closely with him for many years, first in my role as Assembly Member for Caerphilly and since as Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent. He was someone who cared deeply about his community and was working with me on building greater community cohesion in Newport. My thoughts are with his family during this sad time.”
Alun Davies, Labour MS for Blaenau Gwent, tweeted: “I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn that we have lost Mohammad Asghar. We were elected at the same time in 2007 and I know how deeply committed he was to the Senedd and the people he represented. I send my sympathy and condolences to his family.”