Association of Pakistani Lawyers have expressed solidarity with the first Labour British Muslim Peer Lord Nazir Ahmed who has been sentenced to 12 weeks jail sentence on account of dangerous driving. A statement issued by the APL which comprise Pakistani origin lawyers, solicitors, barristers and judges in UK, called Lord Ahmed as a vocal ambassador of political and civil rights of 2 million Muslims living in Britain and Labour voters.
APL believes that Lord Ahmed's vocal stand on 42 days detention and protest against showing the contentious film secured him much respect in the eyes of a victim community since 9/11 and his international role as an ambassador of Muslim world when he visited Sudan to secure release of a British teacher, and on September 10 2007 he accompanied former premier Nawaz Sharif in his attempted return to Pakistan after seven years of exile was brave and commended greatly.
APL noted with great sorrow the loss of life in an accident, which occurred in December 2007, and appreciated Lord Ahmed's full assistance to the Police. However, the Association showed concerns that despite Lord Ahmed's co-operation the sentence has been contrary to expectations and believed that other options other than custody ie suspended sentence could have been the ideal way to deal with this matter.