British Pakistani parliamentarians delighted at Zulfi's appointment

LONDON: Several British Parliamentarians of Pakistani origin, both from the ruling Conservative and opposition Labour party, have welcomed Zulfi Bukhari's appointment as special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.

As the special assistant to the prime minister, Zulfi Bukhari will have the status of a state minister.

Former cabinet minister and Conservative party leader Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, along with Member of Parliament Rehman Chishti and Labour MPs Afzal Khan and Naz Shah, posted welcoming remarks on Twitter saying the appointment of Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari (known as Zulfi Bukhari) a good omen for overseas Pakistanis, especially those living in the UK.

Rehman Chishti, the Conservative party MP from Gillingham was the first to congratulate Zulfi. Chishti, who has just recently concluded a four-day visit to Pakistan, not only welcomed Zulfi's appointment but also termed it as a great news for overseas Pakistanis. He hoped that in his role as the special assistant for overseas Pakistanis as well as being a British Pakistani himself, Zulfi would have a better understanding of the issues faced by the Pakistani community in the UK.

"The Pakistani diaspora is a powerhouse of untapped potential. Delighted to see Zulfi Bukhari appointed as Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special assistant to unlock this valuable resource to build an exciting Naya Pakistan," Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said in her message.

Naz Shah, Labour MP from Bradford, expressed her good wishes on Twitter on Zulfi's appointment. Shah expressed her desire to work with him to solve the issues faced by British Pakistanis.

"I look forward to work with him on issues relating to overseas Pakistanis here in the UK," she said. She also shared a picture with Zulfi Bukhari, along with Imran Khan and his other two close friends—Manchester based businessman Aneel Musarrat and Sahibzada Jahangir—taken during Khan's visit to the British Parliament earlier this year.

Labour MP from Manchester Afzal Khan told Geo News that he was absolutely delighted.

Khan said: "I think he is a good choice and has a good track record. I'm looking forward to work with him to develop good strong relationships between Britain and Pakistan."

"There are so many areas of interest in the long history that both Pakistan and Britain share. I will also play my part helping both sides," added Khan, who is also ex-Lord Mayor of Manchester and former member of European Parliament and a good friend of Bukhari.

Labour parliamentarian Yasmin Qureshi said Zulfi’s new role was much needed.

"Delighted to hear Zulfi Bukhari has been appointed as special assistant to PM Imran Khan for overseas Pakistanis, a much needed role. I look forward to meeting and working with you," she said in a message.

Zulfi Bukhari is known as a successful businessperson and philanthropist in the UK. He has raised money for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Namal University. Once he helped raise funds of £150,000 in a single night for Namal University.

Bukhari made headlines across the country when he was initially refused to board a chartered plane which was due to fly to Saudi Arabia to offer Umrah along with Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Maneka. He was allowed to travel after the Pakistani Interior ministry issued a special notification to grant him one-time permission.

His appointment has been criticised by many but the PTI government said that Zulfi Bukhari is a British Pakistani and a dual national can become special assistant to the prime minister and while having no role in legislation.