Right-wing media attacks Warsi over Tory-Pakistani initiative

LONDON: David Cameron says Sayeeda Warsi is an “extraordinary political talent” yet Labour and the right-wing media continue their attacks on her.
For the 4-week running the right-wing newspapers continue to attack Baroness Warsi. Now they have attacked UK Cabinet Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi for launching the Conservative Friends of Pakistan during Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s visit last month to Britain.
After failing to find anything incriminating against her over three weeks of a sustained xenophobic campaign, the Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times (owned by Rupert Murdoch), two of the UK’s influential right-wing papers are now questioning her passion and her initiative to bring British Pakistanis closer to the ruling Conservative Party.
In May 2012, Baroness Warsi launched Conservative Friends of Pakistan during the official visit of PM Gilani. Both the UK Prime Minister David Cameron and PM Gilani welcomed the initiative and graced the occasion with their presence. The event at London’s famous Savoy Hotel in Central London was attended by who’s who of the British Pakistani community and was hailed as a great success and a ground breaking event for the Conservative Party.
But the right-wing papers have directed fire on Warsi once again, this time despite being unsure what they are accusing her of but clearly suggesting that it’s her passion for the inclusion of ethnic minorities into the Britain’s mainstream politics that’s not going down well with those who have an axe to grind against her because of her background (Pakistani, Muslim, woman, working class) and her rapid and well-deserved rise to the top of the British politics.
Warsi financially supported the launch of Conservative Friends of Pakistan and bought two tables for £5000, invited her family and friends. In total nearly 400 people were present.
The paper further upped the pressure and objected to the presence of Abid Hussain, a Pakistani community campaigner, not only for his attendance at this important event for the British Pakistani community, but also at Abid’s attendance at the prime minister’s Eid reception held in 2010. The Eid event was also attended by dozens of key Pakistani community figures and Pakistani journalists from this paper.
The Telegraph newspaper and the Labour Party have called for an investigation into whether Warsi had breached any rules. However both the paper and the Labour Party failed to produce any evidence of any wrongdoing. The paper’s witch-hunt against Warsi continues without any sign of abating. The right-wing papers continue to offer money and incentives on any kind of negative stories on Warsi, whether in the UK or Pakistan.
A spokesman for the Conservative Party said the launch of Conservative Friends of Pakistan was important. “The aim was to reach out to potential supporters within the British Pakistani community. No gift or hospitality was received by Baroness Warsi and no issues arise in relation to the ministerial code.”
He added: “This was a party-political event for members of the British Pakistani community. To suggest that there was any impropriety in their being invited is simply mischief making” Despite there being no wrong doing, the right-wing papers are hell bent on driving Warsi out the Cabinet.
Last month the Prime Minister of the UK David Cameron called Baroness Warsi an “extraordinary political talent” and he said he was proud that he is the first British prime minister to have a Muslim woman in his Cabinet.
The character assassination of Baroness Warsi, has found strong support from Ed Miliband’s Labour Party. It is being spearheaded by Shadow Cabinet Minister Michael Dugher MP who continues to attack Baroness Warsi and Abid Hussain. In a by-election in Bradford recently the Pakistani community rejected the Labour Party, it would be no surprise after this episode they continue to do so in the future.