A former Punjab Assembly lawmaker’s business property in Farnham, Surrey was set ablaze in a suspected arson attack.
Surrey police are looking into the causes of the fire at a store at Farnham station owned by Dr Ashraf Chohan, a former PML-N lawmaker from Gujranwala and a British-Pakistani businessman.
There were dramatic explosions as a huge fire took hold of the convenience store, leased out to a Sikh businessman, destroying everything inside the store and spreading to the neighbouring shops and flats above. The pub, opposite to the properties, at the time of incidence, was full of social drinkers.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said several of its crews attended the incident, which took place at the Station Hill Convenience Store building. The area is situated around 50 miles out of London. It took the fire services about five hours to put out the fire.
Dr Ashraf Chohan confirmed to this scribe that the burnt property is owned by him and that he has reported the incident to the police. He said that the police has told him that they are investigating the causes of the fire and reviewing the CCTV.
“I own the parade of shops and flats above and the surrounding properties on the right and the left. The convenience store is based in the middle of the parade which was targeted. I suspect it could be a planned attack. I have requested the police to share its findings with us and utilise all resources to find the causes of the fire. The safety of dozens of residents was put at risk,” Dr Chohan said.
A police source said that they are looking at all possibilities and working on the case with an open mind.
Witnesses described hearing a series of large explosions before flames engulfed the ground floor grocery store, causing fears over the safety of residents living in the flats above. Surrey Police and Fire Rescue said that no one was hurt in the fire. The police and fire services arrived at the scene immediately. The police were called by the Mulberry Pub from across the store.
Dr Chohan owns several commercial properties in London and outside. He made headlines when he paid £1.3 million to Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair seven years ago to purchase their home near Edgware Road.
His brother Nawaz Chohan is currently a member of Punjab assembly from Gujranwala. Dr Chohan has been active in the Labour Party for many years now.
There have been at least eight attacks on mosques in Britain in the aftermath of a terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 50 people were martyred. Attacks on Muslim community centres and individuals have prompted fear among local Muslim communities. Police across Britain have stepped up security around mosques as fears of copycat attacks have grown.
