British Muslim from Pakistan's origin runs for EU parliament presidency

MEP Dr Sajjad Haider Karim has been nominated as EU Parliament presidential candidate for the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR).

This is the first time a Muslim from Asian background is competing for such a position at the EU parliament.

The North West UK’s MEP was the first British Muslim to be elected to the Parliament in 2004 and was re-elected for a consecutive third term last month.

Two other British Muslims from Pakistani origin namely Raja Afzal Khan and Amjad Bashir were also elected as MEP in the recent EU parliament’s elections.

He currently holds chairmanship of the Advisory Committee on MEP Code of Conduct which seeks to shutdown corrupt practices in the Parliament.

Dr Karim, a dual national with British and Pakistani citizenship, successfully established the first ever EU Friends of Pakistan group which has gone from strength to strength under his dynamic chairmanship.

The Senior Conservative MEP and close ally of British Prime Minister David Cameron was instrumental in delivering GSP+ which has significantly boosted ties between Pakistan and the EU. Dr Karim’s work in building strong links between the EU and Pakistan resulted in him being awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Management and Technology in Lahore.