SHAFILEA AHMED: Dad denies being a 'violent' man - updated (From Warrington Guardian)

Latest from Shafilea Ahmed trial at Chester Crown Court

1:57pm Friday 13th July 2012 in News

IFTIKHAR Ahmed has denied being a 'violent man who intimidated everyone in his household'.

The accusation was put to him this afternoon, Friday, at Chester Crown Court by Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting.

The 52-year-old denied the claim and said that wife Farzana is not scared of him.

On Monday Farzana changed her defence statement to allege that her husband beat Shafilea the night she disappeared.

Earlier in the trial Alesha Ahmed gave evidence to say that both parents suffocated her sister.

Today, Mr Edis asked Iftikhar, of Liverpool Road, Great Sankey, why she would make such a claim.

He said: "The only thing I can think of is that she wants to get out of the robbery, that she wants to get back at us."

Mr Edis said: "Can you think of any reason why she would want to turn against her parents?"

"No, I cannot," replied the taxi driver.

"Because that's what you and your wife do," said the barrister.

"They (your children) either have to escape, submit, or die.

"Alesha has escaped, Mevish has submitted and Shafilea has died."

Iftikhar, known as Joe, denied the claim.

But Mr Edis said: "Do you accept Mr Ahmed that their must have been some terrible problem in your house to cause your daughters to run away?"

He replied: "That was because of problems in their own lives that we didn't know about."

Mr Edis asked if the family were 'normal, happy and peaceful'.

"As far as I'm concerned, yes," said Iftikhar.

He denies murder. The trial continues.

THE dad of Shafilea Ahmed has accused his daughter of telling 'wicked lies' when she told social services she was being beaten at home.

Iftikhar Ahmed continued to give evidence at Chester Crown Court today, Friday, as he defends claims he and wife Farzana murdered Shafilea.

The 52-year-old said that the former Great Sankey High School pupil lied when making an emergency application for accommodation after running away in February 2003.

In her statement to social services Shafilea said there has been 'regular incidents of violence' since she was 15. One parent would hold her why the other hit her, she said.

"I was scared of going back to my parents, frightened enough to flee my home," said Shafilea.

Prosecuting, Andrew Edis QC said: "That, according to you, is a tissue of lies."

Shafilea's statement continued: "There had been a build up of violence towards me and my mother told me that I was going to Pakistan for an arranged marriage.

"My parents had been into school and informed teachers that I would be absent to go to Pakistan.

"My teachers have approached my parents in the past about preventing me from going to school and got social services involved.

"I would prefer to stay in Warrington and feel if I was offered accommodation my parents would leave me alone because of the involvement of police, Connexions and social services."

When asked why the 17-year-old wanted to leave home Iftikhar said: "We had no knowledge of this.

"We didn't speak to social services.

"What she put down here isn't true."

Mr Edis said: "Why would she want accommodation away from her loving family home?

Iftikhar replied: "I don't know.

"If it was her perception that she was going to be married off that was her perception."

"Didn't she mention it?," asked Mr Edis.

"We would've assured her that there was no such thing," said Iftihkar.

"When she did mention it we did assure her there was no such thing."

The taxi driver also denied 'clipping his daughter's 'wings' by stopping her from going to school or quitting a job.

He also said that Alesha Ahmed and Shahin Munir, who have both given evidence to say Iftikhar and Farzana are responsible for murder, were liars.

"So these people are lying as well?," asked Mr Edis.

"Yes," he replied.

Iftikhar will carry on giving evidence this afternoon.

He denies murder. The trial continues.