HMF Press Release:
Pakistan Welfare Association & Hounslow Muslim Forum Hustings Success
Over two hundred and fifty local Hounslow residents and community members attended Sunday’s political hustings organised by the Pakistan Welfare Association in partnership with the Hounslow Muslim Forum, at the PWA’s Jinnah Centre on Hounslow Road, Hanworth.
With a full-house of eager inquisitors and prospective councillors and parliamentarians from all the main parties, the stage was set for what turned out to be an animated discussion. The two part hustings for national and local elections saw candidate take part from both the Feltham/Heston and Brentford/Isleworth constituencies.
Topics raised included measures to improve the economy, dealing fairly with the issue of immigration, actively curbing anti-social behaviour, protecting public services, pursuing ethical foreign policies, lessons learnt from the expenses scandal, putting the constituencies interests before the party chief whip’s, suitable availability and access to MP’s surgeries, insufficient local funding for much needed youth projects, Hatton Cross Cemetery and the diminishing space for Muslim burial allocation in the Borough, the need for more recreational and leisure facilities, and further to a parliamentary select committee report, the potential stigmatising effect that the Preventing Violent Extremism programme has had on Muslim communities.
All candidates pledged their wholehearted commitment to serving the people of Hounslow, if elected. The chair of the PWA and HMF, Mr Ata Chaudhry, who hosted the event alongside barrister Ms Ismat Rawat remarked, ‘The audience put the candidates to task and the responses were on the whole substantive, an amazing hustings that was made all the more splendid due to the good natured but serious debates that took place. We hope the evening will assist our community in making informed selections on May 6th, selections that are best for Hounslow. We are truly grateful to all our respected guests both candidates and residents who attended and made it such a memorable evening. We would also like to thank the HMF membership for their support and participation’
Ends
Notes:
The Hounslow Muslim Forum is a representative umbrella body comprising 15 local Hounslow based organisations and institutions. Look out for the new website to be launched shortly at http://www.hounslowmuslimforum.org. For enquiries please email hounslowmuslimforum@gmail.com
