DAWOOD 'ASSOCIATE' GETS UK'S THIRD HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD

One of the most trusted alleged “associates” of Pakistan criminal syndicate leader, Dawood Ibrahim, was last year awarded the MBE, or Member of the Order of the British Empire—the third highest civilian award of the United Kingdom.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The 47-year-old London-based Mumtaz Khan, who is a Pakistani-UK national, was given the award in June last year for his “community service” which he does through a chain of community kitchens. The said award, which was announced on 1 January 2022 vide notice number 3956814, reads, “The Queen has been graciously pleased, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire M.B.E. To be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order to Mumtaz Khan for tackling food poverty in the UK and abroad.”

The same news, as expected, was prominently covered across the UK in which Mumtaz Khan was introduced as “Taz Khan”.

However, “Taz Khan” in reality is Mumtaz Ghaffar Khan, a Pakistani British national who in September 2017 stood as a guarantor for Pakistani businessman Jabir Siddiq, alias “Moti”, who is alleged to be a “top lieutenant” of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and was arrested by the UK police in August 2017.

The National Insurance number of Jaffar, who was born on 1 December 1974, is JB897184A. This number is unique and does not change with a change in name. Sources alleged to The Sunday Guardian that the name change was executed in late 2017-early 2018, immediately after he appeared as a guarantor for “Moti”. This was probably done to avoid the attention that the development had generated, sources allege.