Councillor faces fresh delay in legal challenge

Apr 29 2009 by James Cartledge, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM City Council cabinet member, fighting to clear his name after a top election official found he had lodged “scurrilous” accusations against a political rival, faces a fresh delay before his case can be heard.

Ayoub Khan, a councillor for Aston Ward and the cabinet member for local services and community affairs, mounted a judicial review challenge in London’s High Court yesterday.

He is attacking an Election Commissioner’s findings that he made unfounded accusations against Labour’s Muhammad Afzal, also a councillor for Aston ward.

The case was adjourned until June to enable lawyers for the Secretary of State for Justice to be instructed.