A PROMINENT British-Pakistani Labour campaigner has fuelled speculation that a fire at Station Hill Stores, just metres from Farnham train station, last month was an arson attack.

Flames and explosions ripped through the Station Hill newsagent shortly after 11pm on March 23 and according, to Surrey Police, the cause of the fire remains “currently unexplained”.

“Fire investigation officers from Surrey Fire and Rescue service are considering the evidence and, if they deem the fire to be suspicious, they would inform Surrey Police and a criminal investigation would be launched,” a police spokesman added.

However, this week a Pakistan-based daily newspaper Pakistan Today dubbed the blaze a “suspected arson attack”, citing an interview with shop owner and former Punjab Assembly lawmaker Dr Ashraf Chohan.

“I own the parade of shops and flats above and the surrounding properties on the right and the left,” Dr Chohan is quoted as telling Pakistan Today, adding he leases out the business premises to a “Sikh businessman”.

“The convenience store is based in the middle of the parade which was targeted. I suspect it could be a planned attack,” he continued.

“I have requested the police to share its findings with us and utilise all resources to find the causes of the fire. The safety of dozens of residents was put at risk.”

Surrey Police confirmed in the wake of the fire that “all affected residents” were safely evacuated with no injuries reported.

Dr Chohan reportedly owns several commercial properties in London and outside the capital. He made headlines when he paid £1.3 million to Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair seven years ago to buy their home near Edgware Road.

The former Pakistani lawmaker has also been active in the Labour Party for many years, hosting an event on behalf of the British Pakistani Diaspora in 2014 attracting speakers including the now-Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and parliament’s longest-serving British-Asian MP Keith Vaz.

Dr Chohan is also recorded as backing Andy Burnham’s 2015 Labour leadership bid with a £15,000 donation.

Pakistan Today also linked the blaze in Farnham to the “at least eight attacks on mosques in Britain” in the aftermath of the New Zealand terror attack, adding: “Attacks on Muslim community centres and individuals have prompted fear among local Muslim communities.”

The emergency services were first alerted to the fire by customers of the packed Mulberry pub.