Pakistan Prime Minister in Bradford today (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Pakistan Prime Minister in Bradford today
6:39pm Sunday 10th February 2013 in News
By Rhys Thomas, T&A Reporter
Raja Pervez Ashraf is welcomed to Bradford today
The Prime Minister of Pakistan was in Bradford today and was greeted by hundreds of wellwishers.
Raja Pervez Ashraf gave a salute to the crowd when he arrived at the Hilton hotel on Hall Ings just after 1pm.
He was there to address a gathering of people and delegations from Pakistani communities, with a forthcoming general election in Pakistan in mind.
Members of the Pakistani communities of West Yorkshire and Lancashire turned up in their hundreds to greet Mr Ashraf.
He was in the city as part of an official five-day visit to the United Kingdom, his first official trip to the country since becoming Pakistan’s 17th Prime Minister last June.
The invitation-only event, tightly marshalled by police, security staff and council officials, attracted a wide range of people, from community elders down to teenagers.
They were all looking forward to hearing what Mr Ashraf had to say. Some unveiled banners welcoming him to the UK.
Choudhary Khalil was among those invited.
He said: “He is coming here to address the community and local people from Pakistan and Kashmir.
“He will talk about things like trade, as well as the upcoming elections in Pakistan. He will be motivating people to vote.
“There are business people here and people from the community.”
Another said: “People have come from far away for this event. They are all excited to see Mr Ashraf and to hear what he has to say.”
People had come from places such as Blackburn and Manchester for the event. One said: “I have come because it will be an honour to see Mr Ashraf. It is an exciting day.”
Mr Ashraf arrived in the UK at Heathrow Airport on Saturday, accompanied by first lady Nusrat Pervez Ashraf.
He is set to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday at 10 Downing Street. He left Bradford this evening.
He had told the media in Pakistan before his departure that his visit would cement existing friendly relations between the two countries.
