Dad’s plea to end the bloodshed
Date published: 09 October 2009
A GRIEVING dad has pleaded for criminals in Oldham to lay down their weapons as he unveiled a lasting tribute to his gunned-down son.
The murder of Junaid Khan (21) in July was one of three fatal shootings linked to Oldham in three months.
Devastated dad Mumtaz Khan (60) has changed the name of his Lincoln Street shop in Werneth from MK General Store to Junaid General Store in honour of his son.
He fears the murder of shop worker Nasar Hussain — shot dead in a case of mistaken identity in Salford days before Junaid was killed — led to the subsequent shootings.
Mr Khan previously ran a shop in Glodwick for 11 years and knows the family of 29-year-old father-of-two Amran Khan who was gunned down last month outside his Nugget Street bungalow in Glodwick.
Mr Khan said: “He came to the shop every day. When I heard the news I could not stop my tears.
“These criminals should work hard and not carry weapons and not get involved in drugs. They should change their way of life.
“I’m asking police if they can do something. How the weapons are coming to this country and how people are carrying such dangerous weapons I don’t know.”
Mr Khan is adamant Junaid (pictured left) was not involved with drugs.
He added: “He was working here every day from 10am to 6pm. He must have stood up to someone and fallen out with them.
“I don’t feel safe around here. During the night even a little thing will frighten me.”
Last year, Mr Khan feared for his life when he needed a heart bypass but Junaid helped him pull through and cared for him.
He said: “Sometimes I feel ‘why am I alive without him?’ Sometimes I feel my life is nothing without him. When we start speaking about Junaid we all start crying. My wife is struggling to cope with the situation.”
Mr Khan said Junaid was very popular, particularly among elderly English residents who he helped, adding: “I have collected so many addresses after his death from people asking for Junaid.
“The police think someone knows something. They need to come forward. We need justice.”
The case is to be featured on BBC1’s “Crimewatch” programme, though no date has yet been set.
