City picks first Asian Lord Mayor

The couple have been married for 26 years and have three children

Manchester has chosen a champion of inter-faith relations to be the city's first Asian Lord Mayor.

Councillor Mohammed Afzal Khan was sworn in at a ceremony at the city's town hall on Wednesday morning.

Mr Khan was born in Pakistan and moved to the small Lancashire town of Brierfield when he was 12, before later moving to Manchester.

He said: "I am committed to social inclusion and hope to further enhance the city's residents' quality of life."

Mr Khan started his working life as a labourer in a mill and later became a weaver.

On moving to Manchester he resumed his education and completed his A Levels at Abraham Moss College.

Manchester is sending out a signal that we are a diverse and dynamic city Councillor Simon Ashley

He pursued a law degree, began his career as a solicitor and has practised law for many years.

Mr Khan has been involved in inter-faith work for 20 years and is a trustee for Manchester Immigration Needs, which assists political asylum seekers and refugees.

He has appointed a chaplaincy, made up of representatives of the city's major faiths.

The Lady Mayoress is Dr Shkeela Kayani. The couple have been married for 26 years and have three children.

Opposition leader, Councillor Simon Ashley of the Liberal Democrats, welcomed the mayoral appointment.

He said: "With Afzal Khan as our first citizen, Manchester is sending out a signal that we are a diverse and dynamic city which appreciates the contribution made by all our many communities."