Wajid Khan’s journey towards the Conservatives was gradual and with a complete disregard of his constituents’ sentiments.

 

• Replaced Kery Giannis as campaign manager of Volpe after the differences between Volpe and Kery came out in public on Middle East and Palestinian issue. Khan joined the campaign of an openly pro-Israeli Volpe and proved to be insensitive to the concerns of his voters.

 

• In June 06 when 17 Muslims were arrested on terrorism charge Khan immediately fired statement against Qayyum Abdul Jamal, the Imam of Montevideo mosque. Why Khan had to wait for one year to come out publicly against Jamal. Was he waiting for Jamal’s his arrest? (Incident narrated by Khan: Khan visited the mosque as he usually does during the election time. While introducing him Jamal said that the Canadian forces were there in Afghanistan to rape the Afghani women. When Khan spoke he chastised Jamal).

 

If in Khan’s view it was not enough to reprimand Jamal in front of his congregation then he did not use his influence to get Jamal removed from his position in the mosque or at least exposing him in public as he did after his arrest.

 

Why Khan had to join the mainly white/Christian mob with accusing fingers rather then taking a principled stand that all 17 accused were innocent unless proven guilty. The assumption of innocence is enjoyed even by accused serial killers; a stand taken by many commentators, especially in view of an earlier arrest of Pakistani students on terrorism charge and later on their deportation visa violation.

 

• Also in his statements in June 2006 Khan accused some Muslims of using mosques to propagate political views. It was unfair that Khan visited mosque after mosque to seek Muslim votes at election times and he turned around to accuse others of using mosque for political purpose. In all fairness in next election he should gather his potential voters in town halls and stop using mosques for politics.  

 

• Khan took the initiative and offered his services to the Tory government. He was appointed as advisor to the Prime Minister on the Middle East and Afghanistan; he claimed that he Afghanistan well as his father spoke Persian. To say the least the move created deep mistrust against him in the Liberal Party as well as amongst his constituency.

 

• Finally on January 5, 07 Khan defected from the Liberal Party and joined Tories. All his supporters and Liberal Party to which he owed his success in the last two elections felt let down.  

Trust of voters is a valuable asset in a democratic process and Khan lost it. In next election it will be very difficult for Khan to face his angry voters and show up in mosques to seek support from the Muslim community whom he betrayed for his personal ambitions. Yes he is not alone there have been others who crossed parties but Khan has a defined constituency that will not follow Khan and change its loyalties. By all accounts Tories managed to destroy Khan’s political career.