Pakistani Briton selected to feature in Political Leaders Conference

International lawyer Raza Anjum had campaigned for the release of Aasia bibi.

LONDON: Conservative Party leader and international lawyer, Raza Anjum has been selected by the US State Department to represent the United Kingdom at the Young Political Leaders Conference which will take place in Denmark later this month.

The three day conference, which is being hosted by the US State Department and a US Congressional Taskforce will bring together young political and civil society leaders from across the European Union and United States who are tipped to become future political figures in their respective countries.

Participants of the Conference will interact with senior advisors to President Obama, US Congressmen, as well as notable politicians from across the European Union. They will also be offered training by top European and US political strategists.

Among those selected to attend the conference is young Raza Anjum, who has been consistently campaigning for the release of Aasia bibi,in Pakistan. Aasia bibi was sentenced to death for having committed blasphemy. Attempting to get her sentence commuted by invoking the special powers of the President, then Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was killed by one of his own police guards in January 2011.

"I am delighted to have been selected to represent the United Kingdom at the Young Political Leaders Conference.  I look forward to participating in comprehensive and wide-ranging discussions. I endorse the objectives of this conference which include facilitating greater youth involvement in political affairs," Anjum said in an acceptance statement.

Raza Anjum who made history by becoming the youngest British Muslim councilor in the local government elections of 2007, fought off strong competition to secure the role of representing the United Kingdom and was said to have impressed senior US officials with his political and professional portfolio.

Notable past roles include being employed by the Conservative Party and acting as a policy advisor to the Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, Shadow Justice Secretary and Shadow Attorney General. Throughout this time he was based in the House of Commons and advised on issues relating to crime, policing, immigration, human rights and counter-terrorism.

Raza who is currently practicing as an international lawyer in one of the world's largest international law firms, has also acted as an aide to the incumbent mayor of London, Boris Johnson and has worked with the British Foreign Office in promoting human rights in the Arab and Muslim world.

Campaigning for Aasia BiBi

In January 2011, Raza Anjum visited Pakistan to engage in a hectic round of shuttle diplomacy, to push for the release of Aasia Bibi, and to compile a report on the role of minorities in Pakistan for the British Foreign Office and the EU delegation in Islamabad. During his visit he met with various Pakistani government officials, opposition leaders and senior bureaucrats. He also held meeting with the late Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer and the late Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti. Raza Anjum visited Pakistan again in January 2012 to advocate human rights issues and the global rule of law.