TEXAS
The US-Pakistani businessman Abrahim Javed’s bid, who is the son of former adviser to caretaker PM, Anwarul Haq Kakar, Tahir Javed to become Commissioner for Fort Bend County, Texas, suffered a major blow after he faced allegations of corruption, past convictions and violation of electoral rules.
In the election for the coveted post, Abrahim Javed received 3,530 votes (28pc) while his rival candidate Taral Patel secured 6426 votes (51 pc).
The tranquil neighbourhood of Fort Bend County came into the spotlight by the enigmatic emergence of Abrahim Tahir Javed, born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, as he was running to become the Commissioner for Fort Bend County, Sugar Land, Texas.
He is the son of Muhammad Tahir Javed, the Texas businessman who was last year picked but immediately sacked by Caretaker prime minister Anwarul Haq Kakar from the position of Overseas Investment Adviser after it was found out that he had been convicted in the United States in a fraud case.
Abrahim Javed’s bid for commissioner sparked a fervent debate with allegations ranging from residency violations to potential legal repercussions. Abrahim Javed was accused of attempting to garner support along sectarian lines, pitching Pakistani voters against the Indian voters.
Observers said that the Texas Ethics Commission’s decision to investigate Abrahim Tahir Javed for accepting unauthorized contributions and for failing to file a campaign treasurer appointment in violation of the election rules played a big role in his defeat.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission as soon as the election campaign started, that it was investigating Abrahim Tahir Javed as the candidate was alleged to have failed filing a treasurer appointment, which is in violation of Section 252.001 of the Election Code. He also faced probe for knowingly accepting campaign contributions of authorized campaign expenditures.
The story of felonies and fraud begins much earlier with the father of Abrahim Javed, a formerly convicted felon Muhammad Tahir Javed as it turned out that he was sentenced to 5 years in deferred probation for felony theft. However he served half of that term. Authorities in Texas had prosecuted him for theft and a minimum sentence for felony starts from a year.
After his theft sentence in 1994, Tahir Javed focused on business and with help from his brother he progressed and went on to set up several companies.
In November last year, Interim PM Kakar’s office announced the appointment notification of the SAPM Mohammad Tahir Javed was withdrawn.
The notification to appoint Tahir Javed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Investment was issued in the previous month i.e. on October 6 but the decision was taken to remove him based on intelligence and media reports that Tahir Javed had a previous conviction for theft which he hid and didn’t declare.
Muhammad Tahir Javed had pledged publicly to donate $50000 to former army chief General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa’s fund for the flood victims in 2002 but the cheque bounced as it didn’t have the funds for clearance.
