My story

I was born in Kashmir. My family left Pakistan to move to Leeds when I was a young boy – just nine years old. I went to various schools in Leeds and then became a businessman.

Outside work people always brought their problems to me to be solved. For this reason I went into politics. I joined the Labour party and was elected to Leeds city council in 1999 as representative for Hunslet and Riverside ward (at the time City & Holbeck and then City & Hunslet) which I have represented ever since.

113th Lord Mayor

In 2006, I was made the 113th Lord Mayor of Leeds and the city’s first Muslim Mayor. My nomination has sent a strong message to communities across the city and I looked upon it as an opportunity to bring different communities together.

I think the city has a lot to offer. If you want to get involved, you get rewarded. Everyone should realise they are an important part of society. I see myself as a Leeds man and proud of it and saw being Lord Mayor as a massive opportunity to do some good.

I  helped to raise money to send to Kashmir to assist the victims of the 2006 earthquake. I went to Kashmir in December 2005 to see for myself the full extent of the devastation.