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Asad Ahmad

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Asad Ahmad is a newsreader and reporter on the BBC's regional service for London, BBC London News.

Early career

Before his media career, Ahmad studied law at Bristol University, worked as a Trainee Foreign Exchange Dealer in the City of London, a researcher in the House of Lords.[1]

Ahmad began his media career at the BBC on the News Trainee Scheme in 1996 before working at BBC Birmingham as a Political Reporter and TV Presenter on BBC Midlands Today.[1] Before joining BBC London, Ahmad presented editions of BBC Scotland's flagship news bulletin Reporting Scotland as well as news bulletins on BBC Breakfast.[2] He was one of the launch presenters and correspondents for Newsnight Scotland.[2] He became the BBC's Scotland Correspondent, during which time he covered the Foot and Mouth outbreak, and riots in the North of England.[2]

BBC London

Ahmad moved to London to work as a reporter for BBC Breakfast before joining the presenting team with Moira Stuart, Jeremy Bowen, Sophie Raworth, Sarah Montague and Darren Jordan. He also presented the News round-up on Breakfast With Frost and the news on BBC News 24 with Sian Williams.[3]

Ahmad was the 2006 Royal Television Society Reporter of the Year for London.[2] He was shorlisted for an Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards ("Emma") award for Best Radio News Journalist.[4]

Other activities

Since moving back to London, Ahmad has become involved in a working party looking at homelessness in the capital.[1] Ahmad has appeared on radio presenting on the BBC Asian Network[5]. He has also previously presented the Newsdrive programme on BBC Radio Scotland and he has been shortlisted several times for awards for his special reports on BBC Radio[2]

Other programmes Ahmad has presented includes a late night discussion programme for BBC Choice, Newsline Scotland, East for BBC2, Music and current affairs programmes including a Pakistan Earthquake Special programme for BBC1.[2]

Ahmad was invited by the US State Department to take part in their International Visitor Leadership Programme in 2006, where he delivered lectures.[6] He is also a Patron of the charity Working With Words.[7]

"False" Harassment charges

In May 2007 Ahmad was charged by the Metropolitan Police with one count of harassment after allegations were made that he had harassed a BBC colleague, Thea Rogers. Ahmad strongly protested his innocence and said the allegations were false. The case against Ahmad was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service weeks before a trial date citing "public interest grounds". The CPS stated that in dropping the charges they had "carefully considered views that the victim had expressed recently and conducted a further review of the case, concluding that although there was sufficient evidence to prosecute it was no longer in the public interest to do so". Mr Ahmad rejected the reasons given by the CPS and he said he was "disappointed" the case had been dropped as he was looking forward to presenting evidence which would prove his innocence.

The CPS subsequently retracted their use of the word "victim" for the complainant but Ahmad still forced the CPS back to court to clear his name using a right under the Prosecution of Offenders Act 1985. At this point the CPS admitted at a preliminary hearing that the case was in fact discontinued at the request of the complainant and not on "public interest grounds" as they had stated to the press.

In the lead up to the new trial date in January 2008, Ahmad won interim costs from the CPS for failing to disclose legal documents. The Crown then called for a hearing just 2 weeks before the case was to be heard where they significantly contradicted their press statement once again. The Crown had previously said "there was sufficient evidence to prosecute" Ahmad, but less than 6 months later, they appeared before a Judge to say there was in fact "no evidence to offer" against the BBC Presenter and they asked the court to dismiss the case with immediate effect. The CPS said they had finally forensically examined evidence which Rogers claimed to be from Ahmad which all proved negative. The complainants "credibility" was questioned by the Crown before the case was dismissed. Benn Maguire for the defense, called the allegations "entirely false" and said costs for Ahmad may be claimed from Rogers.

The cost to the UK taxpayer was estimated at a quarter of a million pounds and both the CPS and police were said to have been humiliated. Ahmad was completely vindicated and Judge Perkins told Ahmad "he could leave court without a stain on his character." The CPS and Metropolitan Police face an investigation over their handling of the case. [8] [9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Muslims United: Asad Ahmad". islamispeace.org.uk. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "BBC Press Office: Asad Ahmad". BBC. July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  3. ^ "British and Irish TV Talent". The TV Room. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  4. ^ "The Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards Nominations". The Guardian. 2000-05-19. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "BBC Asian Network". BBC Asian Network. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  6. ^ "Visitor from the UK Offers New Insight". Georgia Council for International Visitors. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  7. ^ "Patrons". Working With Words. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  8. ^ "Asad Ahmad Vindicated After Islamaphobic Witch-Hunt! accessdate=2008-02-08". MPACUK. {{cite web}}: Missing pipe in: |title= (help)
  9. ^ "The Irish Examiner".
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