In a statement issued immediately following the attack on child activist Malala Yousafzai, Lord Nazir Ahmed said the incident could have been part of a plot to discredit the Taliban in Pakistan, a UK daily reported on Thursday.
However, the British parliamentarian was quoted by the Daily Telegraph as saying he made his comments before facts, regarding the attack, were clear.
The newspaper had obtained a video of a meeting in London that took place the day after the attack on Malala. Addressing the meeting, Lord Nazir suggested that the 15-year-old peace activist may have been shot to provide an excuse for launching a military operation in North Waziristan.
“I don’t know why it happened and one reason could possibly be there’s an operation in Waziristan [which] may possibly be on the cards or some other sort of action,” he said in the video, adding, “It could have also been to build and increase public opinion and support in favour of a Waziristan operation and God forbid, she could have been caught as a tool in that conspiracy.”
In the video, Lord Nazir said he had visited Malala’s hometown Mingora and claimed there was “no danger whatsoever” from militants. He compared the attack to criminal incidents in London saying, “One lone accident should not be generalised, this could have taken place in London and has done so in the past … We should not imply that this area is under the control of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan just because of one incident.”
Retraction
In his recent comments to the Daily Telegraph, Lord Ahmed maintained that he was “repeating opinions which had been expressed in the Pakistani parliament.”
“On this particular day, I had no idea what happened. Three or four days later when the facts were clear I made a speech at the Pakistan Press Club condemning the Taliban,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
“If I said that, that’s what I said, although I never mentioned the government of Pakistan... This is not a British matter, it’s a Pakistani matter, she is a Pakistani girl,” Lord Nazir added.
Lord Nazir was temporarily suspended by the Labour Party in April, after he told a meeting in Haripur that he was willing to raise and offer £10 million so that George W Bush and Tony Blair can be brought to the International Court of Justice on war crimes charges.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (56)
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@Ali:
I know this might escape you, but he was part of Tony Blair's Labour party, and still with Labour with an imperial title, so this anti-imperialist fantasy is ridiculous. And he backtracked, claiming to be 'uninformed'.
Instead of accepting a known fact that the Taliban were behind the assassination, his first instinct was to take issue with it, hence defending or favouring the Taliban, suggesting a twisted and stupid theory of a govt conspiracy to discredit the Taliban for a N. Waziristan operation, and then tried to unconvincingly backtrack claiming it was expressed by Pakistani parliamentarians.
While there was a mistake made previously by ET, in this case it is Nazir Ahmed who has retracted his comments. He claimed Swat was not in danger from militants, which is untrue and delusional. There are continuous militants threats within Swat and surrounding areas, and rest of Pak, and he is insincerely downplaying this sort of frequent danger to normal crimes in the UK. An insincere denialist, conspiracy monger, Taliban apologist, all rolled into one.
@gp65: I checked up on it and you are right. Everyone, I apologize for my mistake.
@Ali: Please suggest some real, Islamic, conservative media! I've lived in Baluchistan for more than half my life and visited Afghanistan half a dozen times and you are telling me I don't know anything about the Taliban? Either counter my arguments with valid points or go educate yourself kid.
@IceSoul: I am not a Britisher but apparently on the issue of bounty on Obama he had been misquoted by the Tribune which later retracted its story. Initially when the story was out he was suspended by labour party but membership restored after his speech was accurately translated.. What he did say is that he would be willing to sell his home to raise money to prosecute George Bush and Tony Blair for war crimes. Ofcourse like any politician he was making empty promises because he has not yet put his house on the market to fund the war crimes cases as he had said he would.
@IceSoul: You are correct ofcourse. Started out to write 'More loyal than the king himself' and ended up with the mixed metaphor whose inaccuracy you rightly pointed out. Was not familiar with the urdu version of more loyal than the king himself - so thanks for sharing. Learnt something new.
he should run the elections from Haripur, thats where his rhetoric may work
@gp65: I believe the phrases are "More Catholic than the Pope" and "Shah se ziyada shah ka wafadar" Both apply to Zain Sageer of course...
@IceSoul: he never said anything about a bounty, stop reading fake liberal media. you know nothing about taliban or what he said about taliban. he said nothing wrong or in favor of taliban
HAHAHAH ET doesnt like Lord Ahmed, because he lives in the west and doesnt follow Imperalist agenda. Whilst ET writers live in pakistan write pro american articles and hope for asylum. Thats why they lied and said he favours OBL to get him suspended
now they quote the right wing anti muslum "Daily Telegraph" LOLOLOL all he said is swat is not under control of taliban
@zain SAGEER: "May I ask you who gave the right to an Indian CJ to comment on our Judiciary and tell us what’s Constitutional and what’s not?"
Just fyi - he was not CJ of India though he is a retired judge from Supreme court. You go on to say that what Lord Nazir said is true when he himself has now apologized and said that he spoke when he was misinformed. More loyal than the Pope - eh?
@Tanveer Ahmed: "Attack on Malala is commendable whether attacked by Taliban or CIA (USA) agents."
You said commendable. I sincerely hope you meant condemnable?
He should join PTI. After all, PTI gets most of its support from such fanatics anyway.
@zain SAGEER: And other Lord follower , even this is something done by goverment. But goverment shows her as a role model, they told future generation what she did is courageous and right. And very rightly condemned Tailban which really hurt this lord other Taliban lover
It seems as if Malala Yousafzai has become a celebrity over night!!!!...
Danial Tanvir.
Sorry about the cliche but....you can take the Pakistani out of Pakistan but can't take the Pakistan out of a Pakistani.
This man also belong to a religious party in Pakistan and thats why issuing such statemnets in favour of Taliban. It is very much regretted that by living in an advanced country like UK, he did not developed his minds and deserved to be deprived of his british nationality.
@ shams khan The same people that gave rights to british nationals to rule Pakistan ie Rehman Malik - Altaf Hussain etc etc
A leopard never changes its spots. It does not matter whether he lived in the United Kingdom or Pakistan.
@Muhammad Ali: most pakistanis do not want what you suggested. open your eyes.
British Taliban
censoring my comments can't change the truth ET....... Rember's buddha's famous words Sun, Moon and Truth can't be hidden...
Men like Lord Nazeer or Altaf Hussain, or Wajid Shamsull Hassan or even Hussain Nawaz, who have acquired British citizenship and sworn loyalty to the Queen should refrain from dwelling too much in Pakistani politics.
@Shams
May I ask you who gave the right to an Indian CJ to comment on our Judiciary and tell us what's Constitutional and what's not? But nevertheless he wrote an article, had his share of acknowledgment from our Pseudo liberals and went away. Lord Nazir is Pakistani descent hence he has the complete liberty to say anything. Freedom of speech my friend, the same freedom exercise which you vehemently advocated for HoodhboyLUMS based on the most irrational logic ever. So If you can allow all that to happen then... Decide for yourself, how long can you or your liberal pseudos have their share of HYPOCRISY!
And whatever Lord Nazir said isn't his Opinion but WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED! Malala just a pawn of this evil chess board. When that failed, they tried attacking Marvi Sirmed (LOL) Americans are friends to NOBODY - except Israel. You Liberals and their apologist pseudos are all their Pawns for the right move
I can say that his statement is quite understandable in context of North Waziristan Operation. Attack on Malala is commendable whether attacked by Taliban or CIA (USA) agents. USA tried to increased chances for this operation. Apart from this, many innocents child have been killed in US drone attacks and in terrorism incidents but question is that these all of them is not equal to Malala. This incident is seem to be very doubtful. National/International media gave proper and huge coverage to this incident. Media blocks have allegedly got dollars from USA to raise voice with regard to Malala incident.
Nonsence.
he is an idiot
He thinks the he really is a Lord. And why he has always to issue some stupid statement on the happenings in Pakistan? He is a member of British house and does have no right in internal politics of Pakistan.
Well if you are a militant supporter then obviously there is no danger.
i always thought he is the PML-N overseas union council naib nazim in inglistan........
He has foot in the mouth disease.
That's the best thing about Freedom of Speech - give a guy enough rope and he will hang himself. This politician has lost all credibility.
Is he Lord or a Butcher.
He is another crook of PMLN!
An idiot abroad with cunning smile.what a shame for his constituents in uk. How come you guys elect this buffon?
In a meeting in London the day after the attack on Malala, Lord Nazir suggested that “the 15-year-old peace activist may have been shot to provide an excuse for launching a military operation in North Waziristan.” One should not be surprised by his statement. Let us face reality. The Muslims, particularly Pakistanis in Britain and other countries of the West, translate their grievances and frustrations while living in western society into a preposterous predilection for obscurantist religion and religious movements like the Taliban. Whoever believes that they want the rule of the Shariah should think again. Their acts and statements are as far removed from the spirit and teachings of Islam as possibly can be, though some can say that they are a reaction to the corrupt elite that happen to rule Pakistan at present. And finally, does the Pakistan government or the army need an 'excuse' to launch an operation that is long overdue? And Lord Nazir is after all a Lord. He can speak first and think later!
He is a disgrace to Pakistan, tries to interfere in matters not in his domain! There are other Pakistanis in the British parliament like Baroness Warsi who are making the country proud. She was also made co-chairperson of Conservative Party. If Mr Nazir was sincere with his own comments he would have resigned from Labor Party and his parliament seat because Tony Blair was the elected PM of that party.
Read this news and awake up. http://rt.com/news/saudi-arabia-prophet-mosque-615/
His off-the-cuff remarks may not be stating a reality, yet they are realistic.
@Muhamamd Ali: If you want this type of Islam, why don't you move to Somalia? That will suit you perfectly.
Also, can any Britisher (if there is any here) please explain to me why this man, who has made so many controversial statements (he even put a bounty on Obama's head) is still a member of the Parliament?
Lord,
Prudence is the word for people who sit in house of Lords! It is the members of House of Commons who comment on the political dimension of the accident.Let us wait till malala recovers to learn about the story. I will not take the statement of so labelled Talibans very serously. There is a flavour of Yousafzai culture in theie cavalier style statement.
Rex Minor
He is in the habit of making controversial statements which are unbecoming of a LORD. In all fairness he should be stripped off his title which requires the holder to keep dignity of it.
How can this Taliban sympathizing Pakistani be part of British Parliament. Is Pakistan tolerant enough to make an Israel sympathizing British citizen a Member of Parliament?
This man is getting a reputation for himself and its not a good one.
Believe it or not, the British ruling clique has more Taliban sympathizers than the ruling class in Pakistan. I was actually afraid for Malala when I heard she was hospitalized in Birmingham. There are more jihadis there than in Lahore or Islamabad. Malala's shooting was roundly condemned by Pakistanis of all walks of life. Even our Indian brethren were outraged. Who is Lord Ahmed to say that his comments reflected views expressed in the Pakistani parliament???
Lord Nazir is right and in Pakistan almost every body is doing crimes and God knows only how the country is still going on. There are criminals on every street and common pakistanis face guns pointing at them everyday there are not just Talibans but many other criminal groups and gangs. It is very hard to know if someone is a Taliban or not and infact many people love Taliban for their speedy justice and most of us know that fake videos and phone calls can easily be made and even films regarding this matter are made by artists like Ali Zafar. Talibans want shariat and as a muslim most Pakistanis want it too but the only difference is that most of us believe that burqa is not compulsory, girls should get education especially in the medical field but after thier marriage and that beard should be kept by people in their late teens and the young teenagers should be allowed to shave it.
His position is not tenable, he must be kicked out from Labour.
Shameful comment by the 'Lord'. The fact the he's constantly making such inane statements makes me doubt his capabilities and competency.
Lord Nazir's statement makes sense..
Who has given him the right to comments on affairs of Pakistan