LONDON: In a historic development, eight Members of Parliament (MPs) with roots in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK) have been elected to the UK House of Commons. This group represents a significant portion of the record-breaking 25 Muslim MPs elected in the recent UK general election.
Eight of the elected MPs with Mirpur connections are women.
The newly elected and re-elected MPs from Pakistan-administered Kashmir are:
This group represents various regions within Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with Dadyal being the most represented area with four MPs.
Meet the MPs with PAK roots
Imran Hussain is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Bradford East since 2015. Born in 1978 in Bradford, Hussain began his political career as a Labour councillor in 2002. He became Deputy Leader of Bradford Council in 2010, a position he held until his election to Parliament.
In Westminster, Hussain has been a vocal advocate for social justice issues. He supported Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and held shadow ministerial positions in International Development, Justice, and Employment Rights. Notably, Hussain voted against the Welfare Bill in 2015, breaking party lines.
Re-elected in 2017 and 2019 with significant majorities, Hussain has consistently represented Bradford East. In November 2023, he resigned as Shadow Minister over disagreements with Labour’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict, demonstrating his commitment to his principles. Hussain was re-selected as Labour’s candidate for Bradford East in the 2024 general election.
Mohammad Yasin is a British-Pakistani Labour politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Bedford since 2017. Born in 1971 in Samhani, Mirpur (PAK), Yasin moved to Bedford at age 21, initially working in a factory and as a taxi driver.
Yasin’s political career began in 2006 when he was elected as a councillor for Queen’s Park ward in Bedford Borough Council. He served on the council until 2019, including as Portfolio Holder for Adult Services.
In 2017, Yasin was elected MP for Bedford with a narrow majority, unseating the Conservative incumbent. He was re-elected in 2019 by an even slimmer margin of just 145 votes, making Bedford the most marginal Labour-held seat in that election.
In Parliament, Yasin has supported remaining in the EU and sits on the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee. He has faced challenges, including receiving an Islamophobic package in 2018, which was later found to be harmless.
Ayoub Khan is a British politician and barrister who was elected as an independent Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr in the 2024 UK general election. Khan’s political career began in 2003 when he was first elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Birmingham’s Aston ward, a position he held intermittently until 2024.
Khan’s political journey took a significant turn during the 2023 Gaza war when he faced controversy over social media posts. This led to tensions with the Liberal Democrat party, culminating in Khan quitting the party in May 2024 to run as an independent in the general election.
Khan’s campaign focused on his concerns over the Gaza war, gaining endorsement from The Muslim Vote campaign group. In a surprising upset, he won the Birmingham Perry Barr seat with 35.5% of the vote, defeating the Labour incumbent Khalid Mahmood by a narrow margin of 507 votes, overturning a previous 15,000 vote majority.
Tahir Ali is a British Labour politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hall Green since 2019. Born in 1971 to Mirpuri parents (from Dadyal) in Birmingham, Ali began his career with Royal Mail and became an active trade unionist.
Ali’s political journey started in local government, serving on Birmingham City Council from 1999 to 2022, including stints in the cabinet. In 2019, he was selected as Labour’s candidate for Birmingham Hall Green and won the seat with a significant majority.
In Parliament, Ali has been a member of the European Scrutiny Committee since 2020. He has been vocal on international issues, particularly criticizing the Indian government under Narendra Modi and expressing support for Palestinian causes.
Ali has faced some controversies, including a police warning for attending a large funeral during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticism for his comments about the Israel-Hamas conflict. He is a prominent voice for his constituents and on international issues.
Shabana Mahmood is a British Labour politician and barrister who has served as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. Born in 1980 to Pakistani parents, Mahmood studied law at Oxford University before becoming a barrister specializing in professional indemnity law.
In 2010, Mahmood made history as one of the UK’s first female Muslim MPs. Throughout her parliamentary career, she has held various shadow cabinet positions, including Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Shadow Minister for Higher Education. Mahmood has been a key figure in Labour Party operations, serving on the National Executive Committee and as National Campaign Coordinator.
Mahmood’s political journey has seen her navigate complex issues within the Labour Party. In September 2023, she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Justice by Keir Starmer.
Following Labour’s victory in the 2024 general election, Mahmood was appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, marking a significant milestone in her political career. Throughout her tenure, Mahmood has been known for her pragmatic approach to politics and her ability to bridge different factions within the Labour Party.
Naz Shah, also known as Naseem Shah, is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Bradford West since 2015. Born in 1973 in Bradford, Shah overcame a challenging childhood to become a prominent political figure. Her parents hailed from Cakaswari (PAK).
Shah was first elected to Parliament in 2015, defeating George Galloway. She has been re-elected in subsequent elections, though her majority was significantly reduced in 2024 due to strong independent competition.
Throughout her parliamentary career, Shah has held various positions, including Parliamentary Private Secretary to John McDonnell and Shadow Minister of State for Women and Equalities. She has been involved in several controversies, notably regarding posts about Israel on social media, for which she apologized and received a formal warning from the Labour Party.
Shah has been a vocal advocate for victims of grooming gangs and has spoken out on issues related to Palestine. Despite facing challenges, she remains a significant figure in British politics, particularly representing her Bradford West constituency.
Zarah Sultana is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Coventry South since 2019. Born on October 31, 1993, in Birmingham, Sultana has strong roots in Dadyal, Mirpur District of PAK. Her grandfather migrated from Thub in the Dadyal Tehsil to Birmingham in the 1960s, establishing her family’s connection to the UK.
Sultana joined the Labour Party in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks. She was elected to Parliament in 2019 and is known for her left-wing views within the Labour Party. As chair of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus, she has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies.
Throughout her parliamentary career, Sultana has been outspoken on issues such as climate change, social justice, and international affairs, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict. Her background as a British Muslim of Pakistani-Kashmiri descent has informed her perspective on many issues.
Sultana has faced controversies, including criticism for past social media posts, but has also received recognition for her work, including an MP of the Year Award from the Patchwork Foundation. She has gained a significant social media following, particularly on TikTok, making her one of the most visible young MPs in the UK.
Nusrat Ghani, known as Nus Ghani, is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Wealden since 2015. Born to Mirpuri parents (from Dadyal), she made history in 2018 as the first female Muslim minister to speak at the dispatch box in the House of Commons.
Ghani has held various governmental positions, including Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Minister for Europe. She previously served as Transport Minister and has been a member of several select committees.
Known for her strong stances on human rights issues, Ghani has been sanctioned by both China and Russia for her outspoken positions on the Uyghur genocide and the invasion of Ukraine. She has also been active in local constituency matters, successfully campaigning to keep schools and post offices open in Wealden.
Increasing Diversity in UK Parliament
The election of these MPs is part of a broader trend of increasing diversity in the UK Parliament. The new parliament is set to be the most diverse in history, with 89 MPs from ethnic minority backgrounds, according to British Future.
The Muslim representation in the House of Commons has grown from 15 in the 2017 election to 19 in 2019, and now to a record 25 in this latest election. Of these 25 Muslim MPs, 15 are from Labour, four are independents, and two are from the Conservative Party.
This increase in representation comes despite reported rising Islamophobic sentiment in the UK. It reflects the growing political engagement and influence of Muslim communities, particularly those with roots in South Asia.
The election also saw significant victories for Muslim candidates in constituencies with high Muslim populations. For instance, Birmingham Hodge Hill, which has the highest Muslim population at 62%, elected a Labour MP, as did other constituencies with significant Muslim populations such as Bradford West (59% Muslim) and Ilford South (44% Muslim).
These results underscore the importance of the UK’s Muslim population, which numbers 3.4 million and is electorally significant, though far from a monolithic voting bloc. The election outcomes, particularly in areas with high Muslim populations, demonstrate the impact of issues important to Muslim voters, including foreign policy matters such as the Israel-Palestine conflict.
As these newly elected and re-elected MPs take their seats in the House of Commons, they are expected to bring diverse perspectives and advocate for issues important to their constituents, including those with ties to Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Their presence in the UK Parliament marks a significant milestone in the representation of minority communities in British politics.
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