Bashir Ahmad (12 February 1940 – 6 February 2009^[1]) was a Scottish National Party politician. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament to represent the Glasgow region at the 2007 election, and was the first MSP to be elected from an Asian-Scots or Muslim background^[1][2].

[edit] Early life

Born in Karachi, British India (now modern day Pakistan), he emigrated to Scotland in 1961 at the age of 21, settling in the Pollokshields district of Glasgow. Here he achieved success as an entrepreneur, a hotelier, and a restaurateur. He served five terms as president of the Pakistan Welfare Association^[3].

[edit] Political career

Ahmad had long been active in the SNP. In 1995, he founded Asian Scots for Independence to attract more Asian-Scots to the party. He retired from business in 2003 to devote himself to politics. In that year's elections, he was elected councillor of Pollokshields East.

Upon his selection as second on the SNP's Glasgow list, Ahmad said: "The lack of any Asian or ethnic minority voice in the Scottish Parliament has been felt deeply in my community. But SNP members have righted that wrong. By doing so, they have proved that the SNP aspires to lead a Scottish Parliament that will represent all of Scotland - a truly national parliament. I firmly believe the SNP can now earn the trust of the Asian community throughout Scotland and that this will be a bond that endures for generations."

During the 2007 elections, Ahmad was elected to the Scottish Parliament on the Glasgow regional list. He thus became the first non-white and first Muslim MSP ^[4][5]. He took his oath of office using both the Urdu and English language ^[1].

[edit] Praise

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond paid tribute to Bashir Ahmad following his death. Mr Salmond said: "Bashir made history by being the first Scots Asian MSP therefore giving the Scottish Parliament something indefinable. He made it representative of the whole country for the first time. He was the kindest, most decent human being it has ever been my pleasure to meet. And lastly, although he would have considered it to be first, he was the most patriotic of Scotsmen. He was a credit to both his faith and to his country ^[1]."

Flags outside of the Scottish Parliament flying at half-mast following the death of Bashir Ahmad MSP

[edit] See also

• Pollokshields

[edit] References

v • d • e Members of the Scottish Parliament in the Glasgow region Elected in the 2007 election Constituency MSPs Bill Butler (Lab, Glasgow Anniesland) · Margaret Curran (Lab, Glasgow Baillieston) · Charlie Gordon (Lab, Glasgow Cathcart) · Nicola Sturgeon (SNP, Glasgow Govan) · Pauline McNeill (Lab, Glasgow Kelvin) · Patricia Ferguson (Lab, Glasgow Maryhill) · Johann Lamont (Lab, Glasgow Pollok) · James Kelly (Lab, Glasgow Rutherglen)  · Frank McAveety (Lab, Glasgow Shettleston) · Paul Martin (Lab, Glasgow Springburn) Additional Members Bashir Ahmad (SNP) · Bill Aitken (Con) · Robert Brown (Lib Dem) · Bob Doris (SNP) · Patrick Harvie (Green) · Bill Kidd (SNP) · Sandra White (SNP) Labour (9 seats), SNP (5 seats), Conservative (1 seat), Lib Dems (1 seat), Greens (1 seat)