'Sting' was set up to damage Pakistanis: Chair of Labour Friends of Pakistan

LONDON: Chair of Labour Friends of Pakistan Faiz ul Rasool has insisted that he has not done anything wrong and the money he received from an undercover reporter was in public view intended to organise a Muslim Friends of Labour event.
The businessman at the centre of a cash for access row said that The Sun targeted him and tried to portray him in negative light because of his good community work and his continuous efforts to bring more Pakistanis and Muslims into British politics. Faiz ul Rasool said that the £5,000 cash he received was intended for a party supporters’ event – under the banner of Muslim Friends of Labour event – and was not aimed at supporting Andy Burnham MP who was fighting to become the Labour leader.
Faiz ul Rasool is a well-known businessman who has helped many political and social campaigns across the country. It has been confirmed that Faiz ul Rasool has given the Labour party more than £180,000 in the last decade. He has been a key part of many campaigns for Labour leadership. He has supported many charities working in Pakistan.
The Sun filmed Faiz ul Rasool getting cash from an undercover reporter posing as a wealthy Pakistani man interested in supporting the Labour party. Faiz ul Rasool said he returned the money after carrying out checks on the undercover reporter through a mutual contact Shahzada Hayat after it was established that he (the undercover reporter) didn’t meet the required standard for a donor under the rules that govern political parties in Britain.
“The whole thing was a set up from start to end by Atta-ul-Haq of UK Times. It’s unfortunate that some of the people used were Pakistanis whom I knew as friends just for a few thousand Pounds, they went out of their way to malign Pakistanis in the UK. They have tried to damage me and Pakistan but they cannot succeed in their evil mission. I have a track record of supporting the Labour party through open and transparent means. I have funded the party at many times and I never did anything illegal. “I always advocated the case of Pakistan within the Labour party and this was not liked by those who work for the enemies of Pakistan. In my capacity as the chair of the Labour Friends of Pakistan and co-chair of Muslim Friends of Labour, I have worked tirelessly for inclusiveness of ethnic minorities into British politics and have worked with a wide range of people.”
Faiz explained that The Sun targeted him and made a story out of nothing to drag Labour party into controversy at a crucial time when the party was choosing its leader. “I confirm that I was given £5,000 by Arshad Omar as a deposit for sponsorship for a planned Muslim Friends of Labour reception. The deposit was not for Andy Burnham in any sense. After carrying out due diligence on Arshad Omar I concluded that he was unable to satisfy the criteria.
Specifically his claimed identity could not be verified. That was the end of the matter but the story was published for political reasons.” Meanwhile, Labour parliamentarian Andy Burnham announced that he will file a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) against The Sun for deploying subterfuge, hidden cameras and a baby.
Faiz ul Rasool confirmed that a baby in pram was also used “for the sake of money”. “It’s unbelievable that someone can use a 9-month-old baby for a political sting. There is no humanity in that and height of greed and vindictiveness. Rasool also confirmed he has a copy of both passport and driving licence of Arshad Omar and his wife Nosheen Kouser Khan.
Atta-ul-Haq has rejected the claims that he set up the whole trap. He said he has worked withFaiz Rasool on many occasions to raise funds for the Labour party. Haq has rejected the allegations.
Evan Harris, of press reform group Hacked Off, said: “Even the editors’ own code is clear – the use of subterfuge, deceit, hidden cameras and listening devices is only justified if there are reasonable pre-existing grounds to suspect wrongdoing.”