LONDON: Major General Karl Harris CBE of the British Army has praised the role played by Pakistani and Muslim soldiers in the then British India, today’s Pakistan, during the First and Second World Wars to defend Britain.
Major General Karl Harris CBE made these remarks on the eve of Armistice Day as he signed the Armed Forces Covenant with Dr Tariq Sheikh, the British Pakistani businessman who is known as UK and Europe’s biggest halal meat supplier through Tariq Halal Meats.
The Covenant is the nation’s promise that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared with other citizens. Tariq Sheikh signed for his company Tariq Halal Meats, and General Harris, for the Ministry of Defence to help the British military personnel, veterans and their families.
Addressing guests after the signing, the UK military general said that Remembrance and the anniversary of the Armistice are sobering reminders of how hard the country’s freedoms were fought for. Britain, he said, has one Army, and it belongs to its communities as much as to those in uniform.
Major General Karl Harris said: “We celebrate the history and heritage that we all share, whether that’s the British Army or people from South Asian heritage. My maternal grandfather served in the Indian Army in Burma, and your relatives similarly served in that same theatre of war. My visit here today is about connection, community and celebration, bringing together the British Army and South Asian communities.”
“I was born in Gujrat, in the Punjab, in Pakistan. My wife is from Jhelum, down the road. If you know the British Army, you know those names. For a hundred years Jhelum sent its sons into the British Indian Army,” Dr Tariq Sheikh said.
“The Pakistan Army was born of that same Army in 1947. Its regiments, its discipline and its pride are an inheritance from the British Army, and it has honoured that inheritance ever since. To every young British Pakistani I say: this tradition is yours. This is your country and this is your Army. Serve in it, join its reserves, send your children to its cadets, and carry the tradition on. The Covenant will hang in our shops across the country, and beside it a call to our customers: join the Forces, and support them with pride,” Dr Sheikh said.
“More than three million customers come through our shops every year, and every one of them will now see the Covenant on our walls, with a call beside it to join the Armed Forces and to support them with pride,” said Dr Tariq Sheikh. “It follows the memorandum of understanding we signed in September with the British Asian Trust, the charity founded by His Majesty The King.”
Thaira Sheikh, Chief Financial Officer, said: “Anyone leaving the Forces who applies to work with us is guaranteed an interview. Our reservists will have paid time for their annual training, and the partners of serving personnel will have flexibility when a posting comes.” Kunal Patel, CEO of Franchises, added: “Serving personnel, veterans and their families will be welcomed at every counter, and every franchise partner will support cadet units where our shops trade and hold a moment of remembrance each year.”
The signing is the continuation of securing pledge of support by businesses founded and led by people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, brought together by Arif Anis MBE, who led the signing of the Covenant in November 2019 alongside Rear Admiral Mike Bath, then Naval Secretary.
