SURVIVORS of the horrific Birkby fire face a race against time – to stop another of the killers being released.
Shakiel Amir Shazad – convicted of killing eight people in the firebomb attack on their Huddersfield home – is expected to appear before the Parole Board this summer.
He is following the lead of his co-accused, Nazar Hussain, who has already been freed from jail despite the deaths.
But surviving members of the family targeted by the bombers and other campaigners face a veil of secrecy.
They can have no access to reports that will be considered by the Parole Board and cannot make a personal appeal to board members.
Shazad, of Gledholt Road, Huddersfield, could be freed just 11 years after the arson attack.
He and Nazar Hussain were both convicted of eight counts of manslaughter, while a third accused, Shaied Iqbal, of Springdale Road, Thornton Lodge, was convicted of eight counts of murder.
Iqbal was the instigator of the attack and was jailed for life after he was convicted of eight murder counts and pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit arson.
A fourth suspect, Shahid Mohammed, fled during the early stages of the inquiry and is still a fugitive.
Last week the family enlisted the help of Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove, who has promised to do all she can.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan have also been lobbying MPs and ministers.
Mohammed Shafiq, who escaped the inferno which swept through his home, said: “We need a change in the law regarding the Parole Board.
“We have struggled to find out anything about the hearing involving Shazad and even though we can submit a victim impact statement, we cannot see other reports the Board will examine.
“The Board have already had a preliminary meeting and agreed to hold a full hearing between June and October to discuss his full application for parole.
“But it seems unlikely that we will ever get to know why this man who killed eight people is being released years ahead of when he should be out.”
Mr Sheerman said: “I am still pushing for a face to face meeting with the head of the Parole Board as this is all wrong.
“I am also determined to take it up with the Home Secretary on behalf of the family.”
Clr Khan said: “The Board has to consider the impact not just on the victim but on the whole community. This shows how our justice system is weighted against victims.
“The Board also makes high-profile mistakes and that cannot be allowed to happen.”
The gang petrol-bombed the Chishti family’s home at Osborne Road while the occupants slept in the early hours of May 12, 2002.
Petrol was poured through the living room window, triggering a blaze which cost the lives of a mother, two of her children and her five grand-daughters.
Those killed in the fire included Nafeesa Aziz, 35, who perished with her five young daughters: Tayyaba Batool, 13; Rabiah Batool, 10; Ateeqa Nawaz, six; Aneesa Nawaz, two, and Najeeba Nawaz, six months.
Nafeesa’s brother, Mohammed Ateeq-ur-Rehman, 18, also died in the flames. Their mother, Zaib-u-Nisa, 54, died later in hospital after leaping from a window.
