Javaid to be quizzed over link with extreme Islamic group

Dibb Lupton Alsop partners were hoping to quiz associate Makbool Javaid about his alleged membership of an extreme Islamic group as The Lawyer went to press.

Javaid joined the firm in January from the Commission for Racial Equality and has been advising Dibbs' clients on how to avoid unfair dismissal and racial discrimination actions.

Last week it was alleged that Javaid, who was appointed to a new race relations forum by Home Secretary Jack Straw in June, is a member of the London based al-Muhajiroun group, which backs Osama bin Laden, the international terrorist responsible for the recent US embassy bombings in Africa.

Javaid attended the inaugural meeting of the forum in June, although al-Muhajiroun's leader, Sheikh Bakri, told The Times that Javaid had not accepted the appointment.

The Home Office is investigating his appointment and one source said he doubted that Javaid would remain a member of the forum.

Javaid only returned from a holiday in Pakistan on Friday, and senior Dibbs partners are now seeking a meeting with him.

In a statement issued earlier in the week, managing partner Nigel Knowles said he was "very surprised and concerned" to read the press reports about Javaid. Knowles added: "He came to the firm with impeccable referencesS and has since proved to be a formidable practitioner."