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Kashmir origin British politician steps down over sexual misconduct

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 11/20/2020 1:05:29 PM

JAMMU, Nov 19: A British politician of Kashmiri origin and a member of the House of Lords, Lord Nazir Ahmed, retired from Parliament after seeing a conduct report recommending he be expelled for sexually exploiting a vulnerable woman.
The Lords Conduct Committee concluded Lord Ahmed of Rotherham emotionally and sexually exploited Tahira Zaman, who came to him for help in 2017, according to a BBC report which said that the inquiry into his behaviour followed a BBC Newsnight investigation.
Lord Ahmed said the allegations in the report were not true and he would appeal against the decision.
Zaman said she was "elated and relieved" at the report's findings.
The Lords Conduct Committee report concluded Lord Ahmed had exploited Zaman, despite knowing she was receiving treatment for anxiety and depression.
The Lords Commissioner for Standards, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, said this "exacerbates the seriousness" of his breaches of the code of conduct.
Zaman said she had approached Lord Ahmed because she thought he could help her get the Metropolitan Police to investigate a faith healer who she believed was exploiting women.
Lord Ahmed wrote to the Met Police Commissioner on headed paper on 2 March, and he and Zaman met at a restaurant in east London in February 2017 to discuss the case.
After dinner, Ms Zaman alleged that Lord Ahmed groped her upper thigh.
On the balance of probabilities, the Commissioner for Standards' investigation found that Lord Ahmed had sexually assaulted her.
According to the report, Lord Ahmed continued to pursue her and Zaman felt they were entering into a relationship.
But Zaman says that after two months the relationship ended. She says she realised she had been exploited.
Zaman first complained to the House of Lords about Lord Ahmed's behaviour in January 2018.