Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pakistan condemns 'racist and Islamophobic' remarks against British-Pakistanis

Shafqat-Ali-Khan

Pakistan foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan. (Photo: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

PAKISTAN condemned on Monday the "increasingly racist and Islamophobic" comments targeting British-Pakistanis.

The country emphasised the strong ties with the UK and the contributions of the community members.


The condemnation came after a series of remarks directed at the Pakistani community in the UK, sparked by Tesla CEO Elon Musk's involvement in a debate about the term “Asian grooming gangs.”

In response to media queries, Pakistan's foreign office issued a statement expressing concern over the growing political and media rhetoric in the UK that links the actions of a few individuals to the entire 1.7 million-strong British Pakistani diaspora.

"We note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK that is aimed at conflating the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British Pakistani diaspora," said foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.

The term "grooming gangs" refers to the widespread abuse of girls in various English towns and cities, which came to light over a decade ago.

The issue gained attention from Pakistan after Indian politician Priyanka Chaturvedi posted on X, "Repeat after me, they aren't ASIAN grooming gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs." Musk responded with a simple "true," showing his support for Chaturvedi's statement.

Khan reiterated that the friendship between Pakistan and the UK is defined by warmth, trust, and robust cooperation.

"The deep and multifaceted relations cover important areas including trade and investment, education, security, counter-terrorism, parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people contacts," Khan said.

He also highlighted the historical contributions of British Pakistanis, noting that many served in the British Indian army during both World Wars.

"British Pakistanis today form the backbone of the UK's health, retail and services sectors. Many British Pakistanis hold high public office, and thousands serve their communities as Members of Parliament, mayors, councillors, and as members of local police and municipal services,” Khan added.

He further stated that British Pakistanis have excelled in various fields, including sports and arts, and that their culture, cuisine, and music enrich British society.

"To demonise such a large and diverse community on the basis of the actions of a few individuals needs to be condemned," Khan said.

(With inputs from PTI)

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less