Three Members of Parliament have come under scrutiny for endorsing a luxury property development in Dubai, despite the fact that the developers behind the project are barred from entering the UK due to allegations of bribery and corruption.

The MPs, Afzal Khan and Naz Shah from the Labour Party, along with independent MP Ayoub Khan, who is known for his pro-Gaza stance, participated in events promoting investment opportunities in a new desert city named Waada. They conveyed messages encouraging British-Pakistani investors to consider purchasing homes there.

The controversy arises because the development is spearheaded by a father-and-son duo who are not only immensely wealthy but are also fugitives in Pakistan. Following a major investigation into their dealings, they were prohibited from entering the UK due to links with a ‘dirty money’ scandal.

In a significant 2019 settlement, Malik Riaz Hussain and his son Ali Riaz Malik agreed to surrender a staggering £140 million in cash and a Knightsbridge property valued at £50 million. This agreement was part of the largest asset recovery ever facilitated by the UK’s National Crime Agency, often referred to as Britain’s equivalent of the FBI. The settlement followed Pakistan’s investigation into alleged corruption involving their real estate company, Bahria Town.

While there are no specific regulations that prevent MPs from promoting property investments, the involvement of these lawmakers has sparked debates over their decision-making. Critics argue that their actions inadvertently lend credibility and provide advantageous exposure to a venture associated with businessmen who are banned from the UK on grounds of corruption.

While there are no rules preventing MPs promoting property investments, the backbenchers face questions about their judgement in conferring legitimacy and giving valuable publicity to a project backed by allegedly corrupt businessmen who are banned from the UK.

For his part, Afzal Khan insists he did not endorse or promote the project, while Ms Shah said she was invited to many such events.

Ayoub Khan said he was unaware of ‘any historical impropriety’ involving the tycoons and had asked for his name to be removed from promotional material.

The proposed mini-city in the Dubai desert would house 40,000 people in flats, villas, mansions and a five star hotel surrounded by landscaped gardens and lagoons

Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West (from right), attending a gala event in Mayfair in June 2025 aimed at attracting investors to the development

As they battle the Pakistani authorities, Mr Hussain – once ranked the country’s fourth richest man – and his son are now seeking investors for the ambitious development in the desert of south Dubai.

According to their firm, Waada would one day house 40,000 people in flats, villas, mansions and a five star hotel surrounded by landscaped gardens and lagoons, with a scale model of the Eiffel Tower as its centrepiece.

The trio of MPs all attended promotional events organised by the pair – who have always protested their innocence – aimed at investors from the British-Pakistani community in June 2025, the Sunday Times revealed today.

First Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Rusholme and a member of Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee, was a ‘distinguished guest’ at an event in Stockport where he gave interviews praising the proposed city’s strategic location.

He was later sacked as UK trade envoy to Turkey after the Daily Mail revealed how he had caused a diplomatic spat with an unauthorised trip to northern Cyprus.

Then Ayoub Khan, independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, was ‘guest of honour’ at a roadshow in the West Midlands.

Pointing out that Waada was Urdu for ‘promise’, he recorded a video hailing the developers’ ‘track record’ in construction and saying they were ‘looking at making affordable properties in Dubai’.

Finally Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, was an ‘esteemed guest’ at a gala in Mayfair.

She heaped praise on the firm’s ‘successful reputation in Pakistan’, adding: ‘If they can deliver in Dubai, many people, not just Pakistanis, will be looking towards it.’

Tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain (seated) and his son Ali Riaz Malik are banned from entering the UK following a probe into ‘dirty money’ allegations

Ayoub Khan, independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr pictured at a pro-Palestine rally, was ‘guest of honour’ at a roadshow in the West Midlands

Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Rusholme, gave interviews praising the proposed city’s strategic location

The attendance of the three MPs was subsequently highlighted on Bahria Town’s website and social media.

As they are unable to travel to the UK over what a senior judge said in 2021 was this country’s ‘commitment to combat corruption and financial crime’, the father and son behind the project instead delivered video messages at the events.

Mr Hussain, 72, is described on the Bahria Town website as ‘a man larger than life and a legend for all times to come’.

But in 2019 he and his family agreed to forfeit £140 million held in nine UK bank accounts and the value of the 16,000 sq ft Knightsbridge home with views over Hyde Park after the NCA investigation.

However after being passed to the Pakistani government, the money was allegedly then illicitly used by the country’s then PM, former cricketer Imran Khan, to pay off Mr Hussain’s debts.

The former leader was later jailed for 14 years over the alleged deal but continues to protest his innocence.

Meanwhile both Mr Hussain and his son are subject to investigations into alleged corruption and money laundering by the Pakistani authorities – allegations he has branded ‘blackmail’ and politically motivated.

Afzal Khan told the Sunday Times he attended the event ‘briefly after being invited by a local business person, not the organisers’.

He added: ‘I did not address the room, endorse the company or promote the project.

‘I have not invested in the project, and neither I nor my family have received any gifts or inducements.’

In a statement to the paper, Ayoub Khan said that at the time he attended the event he had ‘no prior knowledge of any historical impropriety associated with the project’s owners, nor did I know who they were’.

He added: ‘I did not encourage constituents to personally invest in the initiative and I certainly did not exercise my status to any such end: any attempts to imply otherwise are simply disingenuous and misinformed.

‘On the contrary, I made it clear that I would seek assurances by meeting stakeholders due to concerns about investments abroad.’

Ayoub Khan said he had written to Bahria Town ‘requesting the immediate removal of all references to me from their public platforms’.

Additionally he said he was not an investor in the project and had had no engagement with it since his appearance.

A spokesman for Ms Shah told the Sunday Times: ‘Naz gets invited to attend many events by her constituents that relate to their Pakistani heritage and this was one of those events.’

All three have been approached for comment, along with Bahria Town.