Social activist and writer Taj Ali says individuals are selected as electoral candidates based on their family background rather than their competency.
For centuries, the Biradri system has been practiced in Pakistani populations to reinforce political status, hereditary social status, occupation, and land ownership. But now, it has transcended to the UK.
Recently, social activist and writer Taj Ali highlighted the ‘toxic biradri’ clan-based politics plaguing towns like Luton, Bradford, and Birmingham.
Taking to Twitter, Ali said that despite this practice harming the Pakistani community in the UK, it remains taboo that many would like to brush under the carpet.
In a series of tweets, Ali noted that due to ‘Biradri’ system, individuals are selected as electoral candidates based on their family background rather than their competency.
We cannot ignore the toxic 'biradri' clan-based politics plaguing towns like Luton, Bradford and Birmingham. This is a taboo that many would like to brush under the carpet but as young British Pakistani, I believe it is harming our own community the most. 🧵
— Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) May 7, 2022
“Those involved with the Biradri clan system sign up their extensive family networks to join local parties primarily to influence selection outcomes and put them in positions of power even when those family members have no interest in politics or local community issues,” he said.
Ali deplored that entire branches of local parties are run on Biradri lines, adding that caste politics has led to councilors who can’t speak English or read policy documents representing the diaspora. He said plenty of talented young people in our communities are deliberately excluded.
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Ali said in 1971, Thomas Paine rallied against Britain’s infamous pocket boroughs, election districts “in the pocket” of one family that still exist today. He quoted Paine saying, ‘Politics cannot be the property of any particular family but of the whole community at whose expense it is supported.’
He said it has a damaging impact on communities like the Pakistani community because the issues that affect us, like child poverty, poor housing, education, etc., don’t get the attention they deserve. He said the scandal needs addressing.
Things will not change for British Pakistanis until we get our own house in order. When we are represented by councillors who can barely string a sentence together, who does that benefit? Certainly not our own community. Support people based on their competency not their caste.
— Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) May 7, 2022
“It is enabled by political parties approaching minority communities through self-proclaimed ‘community leaders.’ It creates the impression of a homogeneous block of voters and obscures the diverse range of views in communities.”
Ali urged the political parties to change their approach to engaging with diverse communities by recognising the plurality of voices and actively engaging with young people to tackle such issues.
“When are we represented by councilors who can barely string a sentence together, who does that benefit? Certainly not our own community. Support people based on their competency, not their caste.”
Read more: And the caste system lives on
Ali claimed that many are complicit and make deals with Biradri clans to remain in positions of power, and they are also part of the problem.
Pakistani diaspora in the UK
It is worth noting that in the 2011 UK Census, 1,174,983 residents classified themselves as ethnically Pakistani. Regardless of their birthplace, 1,112,212 of them lived in England.
The majority of British Pakistanis are from the Azad Kashmir and Punjab areas of Pakistan, with Azad Kashmiris making up the largest and Punjabis making up the second largest portion.
A high proportion of the members of Pakistani communities in the West Midlands and the North originated in Azad Kashmir.
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Large communities from Azad Kashmir can be found in Birmingham, Bradford, Oldham and the surrounding northern towns. Luton and Slough have the largest Mirpuri Kashmiri communities in the south of England, while a large proportion of Punjabis also reside in the south. There is also a small Pakistani Pashtun population in the UK.