Councillor was guest at drug fugitive brother’s wedding in Pakistan

Labour party probe into politician’s claim he had ‘no idea’

- JANE HAYNES Political Correspondent

Birmingham city councillor Saqib Khan Brother Fahan -on the run from drugs charges

THE Labour Party is to review a Birmingham city councillor’s claim that he had ‘no idea’ his brother was a fugitive from the police on serious drug charges when he attended his wedding in Pakistan.

Party officials say they will look at ‘new information’ about Cllr Saqib Khan's decision to attend the wedding of his brother Fahan in the Kashmiri village of Dadyal in June 2023 - two years after Fahan fled British justice after being caught drug-running.

Cllr Khan denies any wrongdoing, claiming he had no idea at the time of the wedding that his brother was wanted back in England for his part in a massive conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, despite both residing at the same address for years.

Police have confirmed they are now working with ‘international agencies’ to try to bring Fahan back to face the music.

He was jailed for four years and three months in his absence by Aylesbury Crown Court last February. He can also expect to face new charges for evading justice.

His home address on court papers is Floyer Road in Small Heath, which is also home to Cllr Khan and his family, and their parents. His father Ayaz, a former Birmingham city councillor was also among the wedding guests.

Despite the family’s apparent closeness, Cllr Khan said he knew his brother was mixed up with drugs and so the pair had been ‘hardly speaking’ for several years as a result.