Cllr Abdul Aziz, 64, a councillor for Barking’s Gascoigne ward since 2010 is now elected Mayor of Barking and Dagenham. He is the First Muslim hailing from Pakistan as Mayor in Barking and Dagenham.

New Mayor of Barking and Dagenham Abdul Aziz, 64 and his wife Najma Aziz, 54.

Abdul Aziz was born in 1953 in Kuthiala Sheikan, a small town halfway between Islamabad and Lahore in north-east Pakistan. He belong to farmer family back in Pakistan and was raised by his sister after his mother died at the age of 4.

In his mid 20s, he moved to Denmark and started various small businesses there and met his wife Najma there. In 1997 Abdul Aziz and his wife Najma Aziz moved to Barking and Dagenham to get the best education for their children. He has 2 daughters, Iqqra and Hinna Abdul, and a son Shoaeb.

Abdul Aziz can speak languages including Danish, German, Punjabi and Urdu. Cllr Aziz says his main focus as Mayor will be supporting the British Heart Foundation and DABD UK as his charities of choice.

He hopes to hold a festival for Eid-al-Fitr – celebrating the end of Ramadan – for the whole community, regardless of religion.

Original News Source: Barking and Dagenham Post