Ashraf Karim

Name: Ashraf Karim
First Appeared: 23rd July 1987
Last Appeared: 21st June 1990
Played by: Aftab Sachak

Ashraf Karim, born in Bangladesh in the 1950s, ventured to Britain in 1968 with the intention of building a new life. Already betrothed to Sufia, who was still in Bangladesh, Ashraf had a fling with a young hippy named Stella. Even after Sufia joined him in Britain in 1973, Ashraf’s relationship with Stella continued sporadically, much to Sufia’s distress. Initially working in a car manufacturing plant in the Midlands, Ashraf eventually moved to Walford with his family to work in a relative’s corner shop. Through hard work and perseverance, he managed to open his own shop on Walford High Street despite facing racist taunts and attacks.

Ashraf first appeared in Walford in July 1987, intending to sell the Jeffreys’ flat, much to the dismay of tenants Sue and Ali Osman. By January 1988, Ashraf had expanded his business, employing cousins to manage his original shop while he took over First ’til Last on Bridge Street. The Karims settled into 55 Victoria Road, previously owned by Julie Cooper, and sent their children, Shireen and Sohail, to private school. However, Ashraf’s management style soon led to friction with employees like Arthur Fowler, whom he punished for offending an Asian customer. The animosity between them escalated, culminating in Arthur’s dismissal in July 1988.

Protective of his daughter Shireen, Ashraf became alarmed when she began spending time with Ricky Butcher. Despite his efforts to stop their relationship, Shireen continued to see Ricky, leading Ashraf to demand a virginity test from Doctor Harold Legg, who refused. Ashraf’s conservative values clashed with the more liberal views of the Walford residents, creating further tension. In November 1989, Sufia discovered Ashraf’s ongoing affair with Stella and threatened to leave. Although he promised to end the affair, Ashraf continued to see Stella secretly. This duplicity led to the cancellation of Shireen’s engagement to Jabbar Ahmed when his uncle spotted Ashraf with Stella.

Feeling the weight of his actions, Ashraf decided to leave Walford, putting the shop in the hands of his cousins and moving the family to Bristol in June 1990.