DAR AL HARB - U.K.: LABOUR MP MOHAMMAD SARWAR STEPS DOWN

First Muslim MP steps down

Labour MP Mohammad Sarwar will resign from the Houses of Common at the next general election, he told colleagues in Glasgow last night.

The 54-year-old MP for Glasgow Central confirmed to his local Labour party last night that it was "time to move on".

Mr Sarwar, who gained recognition as Britain's first Muslim MP, also revealed he had received death threats over his efforts to bring the killers of Kriss Donald to justice.

He insisted this was not related to his decision to stand down. His son's recent conviction for money laundering also bore "no relation whatsoever", he said.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, he said he wanted to leave politics to spend more time on charity work in Scotland and Pakistan.

Mr Sarwar said: "This is my third term in the House of Commons.

"I was a councillor before I was an MP. I though the time was now right to move on.

"I am heavily involved in charity work across the world and I want to help people in desperate need in education and health."

The father of four also said he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren and caring for his elderly parents.

Speaking to his local Labour party last night, Mr Sarwar said he had received death threats after the murder of Kriss Donald. [The death threats were from moslems because he was instrumental in their capture...ed. A.I.]

The MP helped transfer his killers from Pakistan to Scotland. Mr Sarwar said he was glad he had been able to bring them back and help the Strathclyde police in bringing them to justice.

Mr Sarwar was elected to Westminster for Glasgow Govan in 1997.

...



Pertinent Links:

1) First Muslim MP steps down