Khan and others framed it as "her duty as a Muslim" to support him.
A Birmingham Labour councillor has been reprimanded for attempting to influence a female colleague to support Waseem Zaffar’s bid to become the city’s first Muslim leader.
Councillor Saqib Khan denied all claims but was ordered to undergo ‘code of conduct’ training following an investigation.
The row began over two years ago but initially resulted in no action.
His female colleague, Councillor Shabina Bano, quit Labour and joined the Liberal Democrats, citing misogynistic bullying.
She accused an “inner cabal of Asian men” of having “undue influence” in Labour affairs.
An independent investigation by solicitor Claire Ward reviewed complaints against multiple councillors. Only cases against Khan and Mohammed Idrees proceeded to a final hearing. The case against Idrees is pending.
Bano alleged she was pressured to vote for Zaffar in the 2022 Labour leadership election, which he narrowly lost.
His victory would have made him the first Kashmiri and first Muslim to lead the council, the biggest in Europe, and would ensure the removal of incumbent Ian Ward.
She claimed Khan and others framed it as “her duty as a Muslim” to support him.
The pressure began during her candidacy and intensified after her election.
Ward’s report found that on three occasions, Khan attempted to influence Bano.
In one instance, he allegedly told her she would be “rewarded immensely” for voting for Zaffar.
Another time, he referenced Idrees’ potential appointment as Lord Mayor, suggesting it would bring “big changes” to the council.
Khan denied wrongdoing, claiming the comments were jokes.
The standards committee found he had breached the council’s Code of Conduct by failing to treat Bano with respect.
The committee ruled that Khan’s statements could be “reasonably perceived as an improper attempt to influence” Bano.
They acknowledged lobbying as common in politics but stated councillors must not use “threats or offers of personal benefits” to coerce others.
The investigation dismissed some complaints, including those made before Khan and Bano were elected. It also ruled that Khan’s comments did not qualify for human rights protection.
Speaking after the ruling, Bano said: “Everyone in the Labour Party knows how I’ve been treated and to this day, many of my former Labour colleagues have quietly offered support and sympathy, although I was often encouraged to drop the case, or forgive and forget.”
Councillor Roger Harmer, leader of the city’s Liberal Democrats, said the ruling “shines a light on the dysfunction of the Birmingham Labour group”.
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