- Prime Time News24 countered faux information with objectivity, details: Sadiq Khan.
- Mayor-elect thanks PM Shehbaz and FM Dar for congratulating.
- The London mayor appeals to Muslims to combat Islamophobia.
LONDON: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has praised the excellent protection by Prime Time News24 of London mayoral elections — crediting the channel with combating racism, Islamophobia and faux information.
In his first interview with any Pakistani broadcaster after his historic third time period win, Khan mentioned that through the election canvassing, folks informed him they’d seen his re-election marketing campaign on Prime Time News24 platforms.
The Labour incumbent gained a historic third time period on the polls final week, changing into the primary London mayor to take action, with a majority of some 275,000 over Conservative rival Susan Corridor.
“There was numerous hate and faux information about me on this election marketing campaign. I do know Prime Time News24 reaches the bedrooms of individuals by all its mediums. It teaches folks and makes them conscious of the problems. After I went on door knocking through the marketing campaign, folks informed me what Prime Time News24 was placing out,” Khan informed this correspondent.
“It’s crucial on this age of pretend information that we counter the faux information. I wish to thank the respectable journalists who name out racism, hate and Islamophobia. I’m grateful for the assist of your viewers and at this time I’m the Mayor of the world’s biggest metropolis,” he added.
Khan additionally thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Overseas Minister Ishaq Dar for his or her posts on X, previously Twitter, congratulating him on the win.
“Congratulations to @SadiqKhan on finishing the hat-trick of changing into the Mayor of London! The proud son of a hardworking British Pakistani has made each Pakistani proud, not simply his dad and mom. Being elected because the Mayor of London for the third time is a testomony to Sadiq Khan’s means and public service. Wishing @SadiqKhan extra success sooner or later!,” the premier had written on X.
In the meantime, FM Dar mentioned: “Felicitations to @SadiqKhan on his re-election because the Mayor of London. I want him each success as he continues his onward march to serve the folks of London with dedication & distinction!”
Khan mentioned he was conscious that the prayers of tens of millions of Pakistanis have been with him.
“My household originates from Pakistan. I’m grateful and proud that Pakistanis have been praying for me. The great factor is Pakistanis within the UK supported me by fundraising, canvassing and campaigning.
“We’re proud that our relationship will additional strengthen. We wish to present to the world which you can be of Pakistani origin, you may be Muslim and law-abiding and a peaceable human being. There’s numerous anti-Pakistan prejudice, there may be negativity about Pakistan, [and] that’s harmful. I’m grateful to all of the Londoners who prayed for me and voted for me,” he mentioned.
Khan informed Prime Time News24 that the primary era Asians like his father labored laborious and enabled their youngsters to get the training and achieve success.
“If we’re profitable at this time it’s due to our dad and mom who got here from South Asia and labored so laborious. We love our variety. In London, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, and others dwell collectively and respect one another. We should do not forget that we’re profitable as a result of we’re united,” he mentioned.
Khan appealed to Muslims and Pakistanis to counter Islamophobia and bigotry by becoming a member of mainstream politics.
The London mayor mentioned he was conscious there may be numerous hate and bias towards him on social media and far-right teams hate him. He mentioned the reply to battling these points is to affix mainstream politics and combine.
“Don’t be scared and intimidated. The far-right desires to scare us, to dissuade us from mainstream politics. They wish to inform us we can not grow to be mayors and councillors and lawmakers. This can be a deliberate technique. Don’t hearken to them. We are able to grow to be what we wish. Look, I’m the Mayor of London. If you happen to work laborious you possibly can grow to be a physician, lawyer, politician and journalist.”
On Tuesday, Khan started his third time period as London Mayor with a pledge to make the capital the very best metropolis on the planet to develop up in — and a tribute to his Pakistani dad and mom, who confronted hostilities after they first arrived within the metropolis which now has Khan as its mayor for a historic third time period.
Talking at a declaration of workplace ceremony held within the Tate Trendy, Mr Khan set out his stall for the capital’s younger folks and nightlife.
He informed the viewers about his Pakistani father, a bus driver, who confronted racism and hate. But, Khan mentioned London was the best metropolis on the earth as a result of only a era later the identical metropolis made him the mayor and went on to re-elect him thrice.
“My Pakistani bus driver father served London. He was a proud Londoner. When he arrived right here from Pakistan, he was met with signboards in outlets and visitor homes that learn ’No Irish, No Blacks, No Canine’.
“My father was not white. And but one era on, because of the wrestle and sacrifice of so many, his son, the kid of immigrants of Pakistani origin, Asian heritage and Islamic religion, has been in a position to go from a South London council property to grow to be mayor of the town he adored.
“And never solely that however gained re-election, not as soon as however twice. And that’s a reminder to everybody to know why London is particular, the town of pluralism.”
Accompanied by his spouse and two daughters, Khan added: “My title is Sadiq Khan and I’m nonetheless the Mayor of London.”
Khan mentioned he desires to make free college meals everlasting in London’s state main colleges, fund extra youth golf equipment and psychological well being assist, in addition to put money into high-quality mentoring.
The mayor mentioned he was proud that his marketing campaign of positivity was in a position to overcome what he thought of to be divisive and dishonest Tory ways.
“We had a Conservative candidate whose marketing campaign was extraordinarily unfavorable, any individual who was spreading misinformation, faux info and lies, so we needed to reply and rebut that similtaneously making an attempt to place ahead a optimistic imaginative and prescient for our metropolis – a fairer, greener, safer London. I’m actually proud that this metropolis has rewarded that optimistic marketing campaign and rejected the Conservative marketing campaign,” he concluded.
