Hafiz Khan

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Hafizud Dean Khan is a Fijian businessman and former Senator. Appointed to the Senate on 13 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 the Council of Rotuma). Khan was formally sworn in on 22 August 2005. In June 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 of 5 December 2006.

Khan is Chairman of the Hexagon group of companies, and has served in the past as Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Corporation and of the Fiji Hotel Association. He is also a member of the Fiji National Tourism Council, and serves on the National Advisory Committee for multi-ethnic affairs, and on the National Reconciliation Committee.

[edit] Personal and political views

In his maiden speech to the Senate on 24 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.

[edit] 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 struck Kashmir, on the India/Pakistan border on 8 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.