A political campaigner of Pakistani origin has leveled allegations against the office of the prime minister of the United Kingdom (UK) for outing him as ‘homosexual’ in an effort to gain the upper hand for the referendum to exit the European Union (EU), according to Mirror Online.
The campaigner, namely Shahmir Sanni, had released a statement through his lawyer in which he claimed that the prime minister’s (PM) office tactics were uncalled for since his family in Pakistan was unaware of the nature of his sexuality, which was a controversial topic in the country of his origin.
He also said that the comments which caused the problem came from Stephen Parkinson, a close advisor to British PM Theresa May, and had put Sanni’s family members in danger.
It had been earlier reported that Sanni was set to blow the whistle over allegations that some people who were a part of the Brexit campaign had breached electoral roles during the referendum.
In response, Stephen Parkinson gave a comment in which he said he had been in an 18-month relationship with Sanni before splitting “amicably” in September 2017.
“That is the capacity in which I gave Shahmir advice and encouragement, and I can understand if the lines became blurred for him, but I am clear that I did not direct the activities of any separate campaign groups,” Parkinson had said.
“I had no responsibility for digital campaigning or donations during the referendum, and am confident that Vote Leave acted entirely within the law and strict spending rules at all times,” he added.
Responding to his comments, Sanni released a furious statement through his solicitors.
“We believe this is the first time a Downing Street official statement has been used to ‘out’ someone,” the statement reads.
“My client is now prepared to come out to his mother and family tonight, and members of his family in Pakistan are being forced to take urgent protective measures to ensure their safety,’” it added.
Sanni himself remarked that, “It’s sad that Stephen feels he can’t tell the truth about cheating in the referendum.”
“I think he understands why I had to do the right thing and let people know what really happened,” he added.
“But I never imagined that he, with the help of Number 10, would choose to tell the world I am gay, in a last desperate attempt to scare me,” he said.
“This is something I’ve never told most of my friends or family, here or in Pakistan, some of whom are pushed to take measures to ensure their safety. He knew the danger it would cause, and that’s why he did it,” Sanni concluded.