Two month suspension after video shows leading party member shooting weapon
By Paul Hutcheon, Scottish Political Editor

AN SNP councillor caught on camera firing an AK-47 assault rifle was yesterday spared expulsion from the party by Nationalist officials.

The SNP disciplinary committee rejected dumping Jahangir Hanif, who also passed the deadly weapon to his children, in favour of a two-month suspension.

In a bizarre turn of events, the hearing nearly collapsed after SNP bosses bungled the initial complaint made to the committee.

Tory MSP Bill Aitken said: "Maybe the SNP think this is an adequate disposal, but frankly most people will think this man should not be holding public office. His conduct is a disgrace to his electorate."

The probe into Hanif's conduct followed footage released earlier this month that showed the 46-year-old Glasgow councillor firing an assault rifle while on holiday in Pakistan in December 2005.

The revelations were made worse after it emerged that Hanif had passed the weapon to several of his children, including a daughter who was five at the time.

Another of his daughters, 17-year-old Noor, said she and her siblings fired the gun.

Hanif was immediately suspended by the party and an investigation was launched by the Nationalists' disciplinary committee, which responded to a complaint by SNP national secretary Duncan Ross.

Ross claimed the councillor's behaviour had contravened Standard 4 of the party's code of conduct, which states that "every member owes a duty to the Party to refrain from conduct likely to cause damage to or hinder the Party's proper pursuit of its aims".

Yesterday's meeting of the disciplinary committee in Edinburgh found Hanif guilty of breaching the code of conduct, but rejected expulsion in favour of a two-month suspension.

Votes were taken on a two or three month ban, the latter of which was defeated, while the issue of ejecting Hanif from the party did not go to a show of hands.

Members of the committee, while critical of Hanif, were said to believe that media coverage of the affair had been disproportionate and racially charged.

Hanif's appearance before the committee yesterday was also said to have steered members away from the expulsion option.

The councillor is believed to have denied the incident took place at a military-style camp, as was reported elsewhere, as well as rejecting suggestions it occurred on the Kashmir border.

He is also believed to have cited cultural factors for why he ended up in a village firing an AK-47 rifle.

However, Hanif is understood to have been less clear on the details of his children firing the assault weapon.

The Sunday Herald can also reveal that the complaint against Hanif was nearly ruled unconstitutional on technical grounds.

Committee members were unhappy that the complaint was effectively issued by SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, rather than Ross, a sticking point that prompted a vote on whether to hear the complaint at all.

Hanif's suspension will affect his duties on Glasgow City Council, where he will not be able to attend SNP group meetings.

Hanif could not be contacted last night.

An SNP spokesperson said: "Suspension from membership of the party is a serious matter, which will stand on Cllr Hanif's record in relation to all future activity. It reflects that the committee found him to be guilty of a breach of party discipline and rules. It is of course subject to appeal."