Angry councilors have called on city leaders to strip former Labor mayor Muhammad Afzal of his honorary titles. “He was not fit” to bear the historic titles bestowed on him after serving as the city’s first citizen, the city’s Lib Dems and Conservatives said.
The calls come after a judge ruled that Mr Afzal, then mayor, had lied about giving away dates to Aston borough residents while unsuccessfully seeking re-election as city councilor last year, and then tried to challenge the reputation of rival Liberal Democrats Ayoub. Khan and Mumtaz Hussain in an election petition he later made.
They only found out when Khan tracked down doorbell footage showing Afzal at the gates campaigning as holiday giveaways were presented, with Labor stickers attached.
Today Mr Khan, a criminal lawyer, said it was time for Afzal to “face the music”.
READ MORE: Birmingham ‘dates’ bribery scandal: Former mayor, 78, could face criminal charges
He was endorsed by the leader of the Lib Dems group, Cllr Jon Hunt, who said it was “justice time”. He said he has written to the city solicitor of the city council asking what mechanism is available to formally press for Afzal to be asked to resign or lose his remaining functions as life deputy mayor and honorary city councillor.
He also calls for the removal of Afzal’s formal portraits and his name engraved on a board listing the city’s mayors. Cllr Hunt is also pushing for a full independent inquiry into the Labor Party’s electoral practices in 2022, including whether the “giveaways” have spread beyond Aston.
Cllr Matt Bennett (Cons, Edgbaston) said the city’s Conservative Group supported the Lib Dems’ call for action. The group, unusually, did not support Mr. Afzal’s bid to become mayor in 2016, as we reported here, and then again in 2021. “Traditionally, it’s a cross-party appointment, but we just didn’t feel he was the right candidate.” “. Our concerns were not addressed by Labor then, we hope they will now support calls to remove those historic titles.”
It would be an ignominious end to more than four decades of public service, but he had discredited the position of alderman and mayor, the city’s first citizen, both groups said.
Afzal, 78, is suspended, pending an investigation by the Labor Party, into the allegations that arose in the course of hearings on the election petition. West Midlands Police are also now investigating and the case has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. They will decide if there is a criminal case to answer.
Mr Khan and Ms Hussain, both parents of six children, said they were elated that the case had ended against them and they had been vindicated.
“I would have been absolutely ruined if this case had been successful,” said Khan, who said he would likely have lost his right to practice as a lawyer. “Afzal has also made it difficult for councilors to tell residents ‘we are honest.’ He was prepared to take down the people he knew were telling the truth.
“His conduct is not typical of anyone who has held the titles he has,” he added.
Addressing the underlying issues for the first time, Councilor Ian Ward, Labor council leader, said of the case: “Mohammed Afzal has been suspended from the Labor Party, which is investigating his conduct.
“While he is no longer a member of the Labor Group, I must make it clear that we do not tolerate anything like this in the Birmingham party or group. We will ensure that candidates and councilors are aware of their duties and responsibilities. As representatives of Birmingham, we must be above reproach.”
Afzal is also president of the Birmingham Central Mosque. We have reached out to ask if you are considering any action in light of the allegations and court findings, so far unanswered.
Khan added: “At the heart of our faith is honesty. The mosque committee should now consider whether he is the right person to promote Islam.”
He added: “I think he has shown that he is prepared to challenge others, lie and encourage others to back up that lie, and all of that has been laid out in the court ruling. There have to be ramifications for Afzal, but also for others involved in this case”.
READ MORE: Birmingham ‘dates’ bribery scandal: Former mayor, 78, could face criminal charges
Afzal, a Birmingham councilor since 1982, has been embroiled in scandal before. He had his re-election to the council in 2004 overturned due to widespread vote-by-mail fraud centered on Aston. Richard Mawrey, QC, then electoral commissioner, accused Labor of organizing city-wide election activities “which would dishonor a banana republic”.
Subsequently, the Court of Appeal acquitted Mr. Afzal of personal responsibility for corrupt and illegal practices related to the case. In 2016, he withdrew his mayoral bid after he was heavily criticized by activists for allegedly dismissing concerns about domestic violence and forced marriages. He was later selected in 2021 after being re-introduced by the Labor group and vowed to spend his year in office “working with organizations across Birmingham to increase women’s representation.”
He faces a significant bill for costs related to the electoral tribunal hearings of the case, which are expected to reach six figures. The judge in the case has determined that he is responsible for all costs, including compensation costs.
We have attempted to provide Mr. Afzal the opportunity to speak about the case on multiple occasions, and continue to do so. When he approached her directly, he said that he had no comment.
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