SHAFILEA TRIAL: Iftikhar 'floored' another taxi driver, court told (From Warrington Guardian)

SHAFILEA TRIAL: Iftikhar Ahmed 'floored' another taxi driver, Chester Crown Court told

12:06pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in News

THE father of Shafilea Ahmed has denied ever using violence towards his family and blamed his wife's 'state of mind' for her change in statement.

Iftikhar Ahmed, of Liverpool Road, told the jury at Chester Crown Court today, Thursday, he did not have control over his wife Farzana who he has been married to for 25 years.

He said: "She has always done what she wants to do not what I say."

Mukthar Hussain, defending Farzana Ahmed, asked Mr Ahmed where he had taken their daughter in September 2003 and why he had threatened his wife never to ask again where Shafilea was.

Mr Ahmed said: "I didn't leave the house.

"That conversation never took place.

"I'm not saying she's made it up. She's under stress and I don't know what her state of mind is at the moment."

He later claimed Mrs Ahmed had been on depression pills for the last 10 years and was devastated when a bail application was denied five weeks ago.

Mr Ahmed denied hitting Shafilea and said he was not a violent man before Mr Hussain asked about three incidents when he was a tàxi driver.

He suggested Mr Ahmed had 'floored' another taxi driver after an argument but Mr Ahmed said it was self defence.

Mr Hussain then told the court Mr Ahmed had been charged with criminal damage after a fellow taxi driver's window had been smashed.

Mr Ahmed said there was no proof but he paid a £40 fine to repair the damage.

The father of a female passenger also reported Mr Ahmed to the council after he took her to a 'dark place' to get a previoous fare from her.

Mr Ahmed denied this was the case.

Mr Hussain said: "You started hitting her (Shafilea) and you were telling her 'after all we have done for you and you have started messing again.'

Mr Ahmed replied: "She wasn't doing anything so why would I say that?"

Mr Hussain continued: "You said it was all your wife's fault for not bringing Shafilea up properly."

Mr Ahmed said: "I never said that and I would not say that, she's always been a good mother."

Mr Hussain added Mrs Ahmed had lost two and a half stone in the two months after Shafilea went missing.

Andrew Edis, prosecuting, said Mrs Ahmed had said their marriage was arranged and they were first cousins but Mr Ahmed denied the marriage was arranged.

He asked Mr Ahmed if he really believed that Mevish's stories were 'free writing'.

Mr Ahmed said: "She said it was in her dreams and after reading it in the media that's what her dreams were about.

"I trust my daughter."

He later admitted that he had never known Mevish write fictional stories before.

Mr Edis later asked why Mr Ahmed did not tell Abdul Rashtaq he was 'wasting his time' asking for his son,who was 10 years older, to marry his daughter.

He said: "I was for my daughter to decide in the future. I didn't discuss it with Shafilea because I didn't feel it was appropriate."

Mr Edis suggested the arranged marriage was called off because Shafilea was 'damaged goods' after drinking bleach.

Mr Ahmed said: "She's not damaged goods she's my daughter.

"She was ill and then the hospital treated her and she got better."

Mr Edis replied: "The daughter you killed."

Ahmed said: "No I didn't kill her and I'm still trying to find out who did."

Throughout proceedings Farzana Ahmed wiped her face with a tissue.