Tell me why blaze mass killer was freed early, MP demands

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman is seeking a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May following the early release of Nazar Hussain, who was convicted in 2003 for the manslaughter of eight people in a house fire in Birkby, Huddersfield, in May 2002.

Hussain was sentenced to 18 years with the recommendation that he serve at least 12 years. He served eight.

Mr Sheerman has not been able to find out why the Parole Board decided to free Hussain. He has submitted a request to see the papers in the case. He said: “Surely the family and the community have a right to know if an early release prisoner has shown contrition for eight deaths?”

Mr Sheerman said he was “dismayed” that the Parole Board had refused to reveal the reasons for the early release.

He claimed the Parole Board was “hiding behind data protection laws” in not revealing details of its decision.

The MP is also putting pressure on the Foreign Office to act to bring a suspect in the arson attack back to Yorkshire. Shahid Mohammed was arrested over the murders but fled before the 
trial and is believed to be in Pakistan.

Members of the Chishti family who survived the arson attack have contacted Mr Sheerman to tell him that the Parole Board made its decision despite their strong objections.

He said: “It is wrong that a man guilty of such crimes is freed before his recommended time in prison and at a time when one of the other suspects has not been brought to justice.

“There should have been no deal to free any of the men jailed for the attack until the other 
fugitive had been brought to justice.

“I will be getting in touch with Theresa May about my concerns over the Parole Board decision and with William Hague over the lack of action of sorting out an arrangement with Pakistan to find Shahid Mohammed and bring him back to the UK to face the courts.

“I am determined to fight on both these fronts.”

Mr Sheerman said the Parole Board had imposed restrictions on Nazar Hussain’s movements now that he is out on licence. “I have been shown a map of where he is and is not allowed to go and it is ridiculous.

“He can go to Holmfirth, he can go to Brighouse and he can go to Dewsbury and the only exception is that he cannot walk the streets of Huddersfield.

“This man should never be allowed back into any part of 
West Yorkshire, where feelings are still so raw about this horrific crime.”

His comments have been 
echoed by Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan, who last week called the parole Board decision “absolutely scandalous”.

Last week Mohammed Shafiq, who escaped the fire which swept through his home, said he could not believe that Hussain had been released early.

Hussain, of Dryclough 
Road, Crosland Moor, was convicted of eight counts of manslaughter in 2003 and jailed for 18 years.

He had obtained petrol for the attack and was at the scene when it was carried out by his accomplices.

The instigator was jailed for 
life.

Hussain, 33, had earlier appealed on ground that the overall sentence was four years too long, but lost the appeal.

A Probation Trust spokesman said that some offenders sentenced before the Criminal Justice Act 2003 become eligible for parole half way through their sentence.