Pakistani-origin Sara Khan appointed to lead new counter-extremism body

LONDON: Pakistani-origin Sara Khan has been appointed to head a new body tasked with identifying and rooting out extremism in the UK.

She will lead the Countering Extremism Commission which Theresa May promised after the Manchester Arena attack. Ms Khan said that the body which will advise ministers must be staunch in defending freedoms and shared values.

But former Tory chairwoman Lady Warsi said many British Muslims considered Ms Khan a “mouthpiece” of ministers.

The Conservative peer who is the first Muslim woman to serve in cabinet questioned Ms Khan’s likely independence and credibility in a series of tweets and warned of “destructive and dangerous games” being played.