Latest news with #AjazAhmed
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wunderkind trades blows with wounded WPP as ad giant's shares slump
A fierce row has broken out between media giant WPP and one of its former rising stars after he launched an extraordinary attack on the business, accusing it of 'making it up as it goes along'. Ajaz Ahmed, who set up ad agency AKQA as a student in 1994, told The Mail on Sunday that London-based WPP had lost its way and was 'more focused on winning awards' than winning the clients needed to compete on the world stage. It came as one of Britain's most senior media bosses said WPP had 'lost a lot of business' and was failing to convince prospective clients of its strengths. But insiders at WPP have hit back, saying Ahmed has 'an axe to grind'. WPP has been beset by falling profits and the rise of artificial intelligence that threatens to make ad agencies extinct. The firm lost its crown as the world's biggest advertising group to France's Publicis last year and its share price has fallen 44 per cent in the past 12 months. It issued a profit warning this month, citing 'continued macro uncertainty' as clients cut back on ad spending due to turmoil in the global economy. But Ahmed said the firm's problems ran deeper, saying WPP had 'failed to deliver meaningful growth' with 'little evidence of a compelling long-term vision'. He said: 'Its UK-centric structure feels parochial in a landscape where global growth is driven by US-based companies.' Ahmed also said WPP's attempt to get workers back into the office four days a week had 'demotivated staff and damaged trust'. But a well-placed source at the firm said Ahmed had 'left a mess' at AKQA and this was an attempt to 'settle a score', adding: 'Lots of board members had wanted to fire him but he was protected by some senior management.' Another insider wished Ajaz 'would move on', accusing him of making 'very generalist claims'. 'A lot of people who leave WPP have a habit of commenting on it,' the insider added, a reference to its former boss Sir Martin Sorrell, who left in 2018. AKQA shot to fame due to its focus on the growing influence of the then-new internet advertising market. Its clients have included video streaming giant Netflix, payment firm Visa and taxi app Uber. In 2012, WPP took control of AKQA in a deal valuing it at nearly £350 million. After more than a decade under WPP, Ahmed quit as head of AKQA in October last year and has re-emerged as the head of a new agency called He is not alone in his assessment of WPP. One of the UK's most senior media executives told The Mail on Sunday the ad giant had 'lost a lot of business' to Publicis. The source also said potential clients were confused by WPP's efforts to use AI to create cheaper and faster marketing campaigns, saying: 'It says it is investing millions. But what does that mean?' This month, WPP said Microsoft executive Cindy Rose would replace Mark Read as chief executive at the end of the year. A WPP spokesman said: 'Ahmed is now competing with his former employer. After two years of underperformance, AKQA is back winning business. 'WPP's AI strategy has been well received, by existing and prospective clients as demonstrated in significant extensions and wins in the past 12 months such as Amazon, Johnson & Johnson and Unilever.'
Hans India
04-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Cop, teacher among 3 govt staffers sacked over terror links
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday dismissed three government employees for their alleged involvement with proscribed terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, officials said. A police constable, a school teacher and a junior assistant in a government medical college were terminated under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal without an inquiry 'in the interest of national security'. All three are currently lodged in jail, they said. Over 75 government employees with terror links have been dismissed so far by the LG administration. Officials said the action is part of the administration's continued crackdown on terror infrastructure, including overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers embedded within government institutions. The dismissed employees were identified as Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable, Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher in the school education department and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant in Government Medical College, Srinagar. The sacked employees were 'active terror collaborators,' involved in logistics, arms smuggling, and aiding terror operations against security forces and civilians, a senior security official said. Constable Malik Ishfaq Naseer, recruited in 2007, came under suspicion during an investigation into arms smuggling in 2021. His brother Malik Asif was a Pakistan-trained LeT militant and was killed in 2018, but he allegedly continued to support the outfit while serving in the police, he said. 'He used his position to identify safe drop locations for arms, explosives, and narcotics, and shared GPS coordinates with Pakistani handlers,' the official said. Malik also allegedly distributed these consignments to active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. His LeT link was exposed in September, 2021 when J&K police was investigating a case related to smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu region. 'He was not only identifying the safe location, sharing the coordinates with LeT handlers in Pakistan but he was also collecting and distributing arms and ammunition to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir region enabling them to carry out terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians,' a senior security official. He said that instead of helping the police department in fighting the terror which he was mandated for, he chose to be a mole and a collaborator and betrayed his oath and uniform. 'His betrayal of the oath and uniform has caused grave damage to the department, society and the nation,' the official added. Ajaz Ahmed, who joined the Education Department in 2011, was found smuggling arms, ammunition, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen propaganda material. He was arrested during a routine police check in November 2023. According to the probe, the arms were meant for militants operating in Kashmir, sent by his handler Abid Ramzan Sheikh, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Ajaz Ahmed was allegedly involved in such activities for several years and he became a trusted terror associate of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the Poonch region. He was actively helping the terror outfit in smuggling arms, ammunition and narcotics, the officer said. The terror link with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was exposed in November 2023 when police arrested Ajaz Ahmed and his friend during a routine check. Both were carrying arms, ammunition and posters of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in his car. Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar, appointed in 2007, was allegedly found to be part of a terror plot that led to the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel in June 2018, the officer said.
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Business Standard
03-06-2025
- General
- Business Standard
J-K LG sacks 3 govt employees over links with LeT, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday dismissed three government employees for their alleged involvement with proscribed terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, officials said. A police constable, a school teacher and a junior assistant in a government medical college were terminated under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal without an inquiry "in the interest of national security". All three are currently lodged in jail, they said. Over 75 government employees with terror links have been dismissed so far by the LG administration. Officials said the action is part of the administration's continued crackdown on terror infrastructure, including overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers embedded within government institutions. He used his position to identify safe drop locations for arms, explosives, and narcotics, and shared GPS coordinates with Pakistani handlers, the official said. Malik also allegedly distributed these consignments to active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. His LeT link was exposed in September, 2021 when J&K police was investigating a case related to smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu region. He was not only identifying the safe location, sharing the coordinates with LeT handlers in Pakistan but he was also collecting and distributing arms and ammunition to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir region enabling them to carry out terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians, a senior security official. He said that instead of helping the police department in fighting the terror which he was mandated for, he chose to be a mole and a collaborator and betrayed his oath and uniform. His betrayal of the oath and uniform has caused grave damage to the department, society and the nation, the official added. Ajaz Ahmed, who joined the Education Department in 2011, was found smuggling arms, ammunition, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen propaganda material. He was arrested during a routine police check in November 2023. According to the probe, the arms were meant for militants operating in Kashmir, sent by his handler Abid Ramzan Sheikh, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Ajaz Ahmed was allegedly involved in such activities for several years and he became a trusted terror associate of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the Poonch region. He was actively helping the terror outfit in smuggling arms, ammunition and narcotics, the officer said. The terror link with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was exposed in November 2023 when police arrested Ajaz Ahmed and his friend during a routine check. Both were carrying arms, ammunition and posters of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in his car. Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar, appointed in 2007, was allegedly found to be part of a terror plot that led to the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel in June 2018, the officer said. The officer said Khan was associated with both LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and provided logistical support for the attack on the journalist. He allegedly accompanied the terrorists and helped them escape after the shooting. He was arrested in August 2018 during investigations into a terror attack in Srinagar's Batmaloo area. Since assuming office in August 2020, LG Sinha has led a focused effort to dismantle the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 75 government employees with terror links have been dismissed so far, they said. Officials said the administration has tightened the vetting of government recruits, making police verification mandatory. This has reduced internal sabotage risks and instilled fear among potential sympathizers, said a senior official.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Indian Express
Cop, teacher among 3 govt employees sacked in J-K for alleged terror links
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday terminated the services of three employees, citing alleged links to terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). This brings the number of employees sacked in Jammu and Kashmir over the last five years under Section 311(2) (c) of the Constitution to 83. This Section empowers the administration to dismiss a government employee without holding an inquiry if it is in the interest of the State's security. Those sacked on Tuesday include Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable; Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher in the school education department; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant in Government Medical College, Srinagar. Waseem Khan, official sources claimed, was linked to the plot that led to the targeted killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and two of his PSOs by militants on June 14, 2018. He was arrested on August 12, 2018, while the police were investigating terror associates involved in an attack in Batmaloo. He had been appointed by the Health and Medical Education Department in 2007. The J&K police constable, Malik Ishfaq Naseer, is the brother of Malik Asif Naseer, who official sources said was a 'Pakistan-trained terrorist' of the LeT killed in a police encounter in 2018. Recruited to the police ranks in 2007, Malik Ishfaq Naseer is accused of 'continuing his terror activities with impunity'. Official sources claimed his LeT link came to light in September 2021, when the J&K police were investigating a case related to the smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu. Ajaz Ahmed, official sources claimed, is accused of working for the HM in Poonch. He was recruited as a teacher in 2011. Sources claimed he was 'actively helping the terror outfit in smuggling arms, ammunition and narcotics.' His alleged association came to light in November 2023 when police arrested Ajaz and his friend during a routine check, sources said. Further investigation revealed that the consignment was received on the directions of a handler based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was alleged that the consignment was to be delivered to terrorists operating in Kashmir for carrying out attacks on security forces and civilians.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
'Prolific' rapist who abused underage girls jailed
A "callous and prolific" child abuser who used his flat and cafe to groom and then rape vulnerable and underage girls has been jailed. The attacks 56-year-old Ajaz Ahmed inflicted on his five victims were discovered as part of a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigation into historical sexual abuse in Rochdale. In January 2016, detectives identified the first of his victims when a woman disclosed she had been raped by several men at a party at Ahmed's flat on Drake Street in the town when she was aged 13. Ahmed, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 28 years in prison at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court. He was convicted of 23 offences, including the rape and sexual assault of children, following a trial. When officers first spoke to Ahmed about the rape at his flat, he admitted he owned the property but said he did not know who his tenants were at the time, GMP said. Police spoke to another woman who said she had been in a coercive and controlling relationship with Ahmed at the age of 15, and he had raped, sexually assaulted and assaulted her on several occasions. The force said Ahmed subjected her to a "horrific and sustained" period of control and physical and sexual abuse. A friend of the first victim also told police Ahmed sexually assaulted her the first time she met him, just before her 16th birthday. Fearing for her safety, she never reported it at the time, police said. A third woman also reported she was raped by Ahmed. She met him at a cafe he owned and he offered her one of his flats in exchange for work at the cafe. Police said he sexually assaulted her whilst she was in the kitchen. Ahmed also took the vulnerable girl to nightclubs and bought her alcoholic drinks. When she returned home, he took her into the basement of the Drake Street property and raped her. A fourth victim, aged 15, was also identified during the inquiries. Ahmed, who she knew as AJ, offered her a room in his Drake Street flat and would let himself in unannounced. She said he regularly raped her. She said one night Ahmed laughed as he raped her in front of several men he had invited over for a drink. A fifth victim told officers she met Ahmed when she was 17. He offered her a place to stay as it was late but said she would have to give the men something in return. She refused and he took her back to his flat, where he sexually assaulted her. Det Con Ann Cooper Poole praised the victims' bravery for helping to put Ahmed behind bars. She said: "It took just one brave survivor to come forward and detail her abuse and it opened up an entire case which resulted in us obtaining evidence that Ahmed was a callous and prolific sex offender. "These girls had their childhoods and teen years tainted in the most abhorrent way, and they experienced what no one should ever experience." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. HM Courts & Tribunal Service
