- Hafiz Khan
Hafizud Dean Khan is a
Fiji an businessman and former Senator. Appointed to the Senate on13 July 2005 to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Dr Ahmed Ali, Khan became one of the 9 out of 32 Senators nominated by the Prime Minister (a further 14 are chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs, 8 by the Leader of the Opposition, and 1 by theCouncil of Rotuma ). Khan was formally sworn in on22 August 2005. InJune 2006 , he became Vice-President of the Senate and served in this capacity until the Senate was forcibly dissolved one day after the military coup of5 December 2006 .Khan is Chairman of the
Hexagon group of companies , and has served in the past as Chairman of theFiji Sugar Corporation and of theFiji Hotel Association . He is also a member of theFiji National Tourism Council , and serves on the National Advisory Committee for multi-ethnic affairs, and on the National Reconciliation Committee.Personal and political views
In his
maiden speech to the Senate on24 August 2005, Khan, who is the National President of Fiji's Muslim League, affirmed his belief in a single God who will judge all people after death.Himself an
Indo-Fijian , Khan defended the interests of indigenous Fijians in his maiden speech. Differences between the two races have defined Fijian politics for the past generation. Khan said that as a Fijian citizen by birth and also by choice, he believed in upholding the rights of the indigenous people. "As I have chosen Fiji, having been born and raised here, as my home, indigenous Fijian aspirations and in particular, the protection of their rights to determine their own destiny, I believe, should always be paramount," Khan said. He described Fijians as a very accommodating, humble, and forgiving people.Disaster relief for India and Pakistan
On
14 October , Khan launched a national appeal for funds to assist with relief efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struckKashmir , on theIndia /Pakistan border on8 October . The money raised by the Fiji Muslim League would complement the F$90,000 pledged by the Fijian government, Khan said.Khan is married, and has two children.
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