Ilhan Omar promoted DNC megadonor’s medical device firm on controversial Pakistan trip.

Tahir ‌Javed has maintained access to the White ⁢House and top ⁣Democrats

Rep. ‍Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) defended a controversial trip to Pakistan last year on ⁣the grounds ‍that she fought for democracy, human rights, and against “Islamophobia.” But the Squad member’s week-long junket​ also provided a political and commercial boost to a Democratic megadonor​ who maintains extensive ties⁤ to the ‍Pakistani government, a Washington ​Free Beacon investigation found.

Omar, who recently disclosed that ​the government of Pakistan⁤ funded her travels, was accompanied on the trip by Tahir Javed, a Pakistani-American businessman who⁣ serves as deputy⁣ finance chairman ​of⁢ the Democratic National Committee, according to his LinkedIn. While Omar has not been accused of​ wrongdoing,⁢ her close ties to Javed could raise concerns about whether she is doing the bidding of⁣ a prominent campaign⁤ donor—one who has been accused of serving ⁢as an unregistered lobbyist for ⁤Pakistan. Javed has contributed $6,900 to Omar’s campaigns, and hosted a fundraiser for her at his home ⁢in 2018.

Omar’s April 2022 trip drew the ⁤representative a rebuke from India, a⁣ U.S. ally, over her visit to ‌the disputed Kashmir ⁣region. She also met with Imran ⁤Khan, who was ousted⁢ as‌ Pakistan’s prime minister days before Omar’s visit. Drama over Omar’s whirlwind ⁤tour prompted ⁢the State Department to ⁤announce her‍ trip was “personal” and not sanctioned by the U.S. government.

Javed in a May 2022 interview appeared to take credit for arranging the meeting between Omar and Khan, who has accused the U.S. government of ⁢orchestrating‍ his removal from⁣ office. The entrepreneur also organized Omar’s visit to the headquarters of⁣ Byonyks⁢ Medical, a firm that claims to sell Pakistan’s first ‌”bloodless” kidney dialysis machine. Javed serves ⁤on the advisory board of Byonyks. Byonyks founder Farrukh Usman, who contributed $1,000 to Omar’s‌ campaign on June 29, 2022 and accompanied her in Pakistan, suggested on social media that he and ‍Javed organized the trip.

Javed, who ‍owns several ⁣companies⁣ in Texas and⁣ says he bundled‍ $2 ‌million ⁢for the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020, has⁣ used ‍his ⁢access to top Democrats to lobby in favor of Pakistan. He claims to have‍ discussed the Kashmir issue with Biden during a fundraiser at his home ​in 2019. That same year, ⁤Javed⁢ reportedly lobbied Texas state representative Shawn Thierry to boycott ‍a rally in Houston for ‌Indian prime minister Narendra ⁢Modi. Last ‍year, Javed‍ met with Omar, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.), and ‍others to⁢ request additional federal ‍aid for flood​ victims in Pakistan.

He has also ‌served as a liaison for Khan, a controversial figure who has‍ called ⁤Osama bin Laden a “martyr.” After the 2020 election, Javed⁤ personally conveyed a congratulatory message from Khan to Vice President ⁢Kamala Harris⁤ and urged her to appoint Pakistani-Americans to the administration. Javed accompanied Khan on an official visit to Congress ⁤in 2019.

Javed’s ‍advocacy has won ‌him accolades in Pakistan. Khan’s administration in 2021⁢ awarded Javed ‍with the ‌Tamgha-e-Imtaz award, given to civilians for their⁣ service to Pakistan. Pakistani⁣ leaders congratulated Tahir, saying ⁤that “immigrants ‍settled in ⁢foreign countries are ambassadors of Pakistan, [who play a] political and economic role throughout the world.”

Javed has maintained⁣ access to the⁣ White House, Omar, and other policymakers. He attended a White House event this month for ‌the World Series ‌champion Houston Astros, and posed with Biden for a photo at a ‍DNC​ event later‌ that day. Javed posted photos last month ‍with Omar and her husband.

Omar has pushed measures favorable to⁣ Pakistan and defended ​Khan after his removal from office. ​Last month, she⁢ called on the Pakistani Supreme Court to release Khan from jail after his arrest on corruption charges. She has called on the State Department to designate India, an adversary ⁤of Pakistan, a “country of particular ⁢concern.” Omar and several other Squad members⁤ boycotted Indian ⁢prime minister Narendra Modi’s state‍ visit in June, which ​President Biden held to strengthen ties between the United States and India.

Omar also provided a public relations boost for Byonyks, the firm‌ linked to Javed. During a speech at Byonyks’s ​headquarters⁣ in Lahore, Omar ⁤ praised the company for its “life-saving treatment,”⁢ and said she will “be having⁤ conversations with people about this amazing endeavor.” Pakistani media outlets touted Omar’s visit, with photos of the ⁤lawmaker at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Javed and Usman, the Byonyks founder.

The United States-India Relationship Council, a pro-India advocacy group, has questioned why Javed accompanied Omar on ‍her ‌trip to Pakistan. The group ‍has accused Javed of “pushing US politicians to subscribe to⁢ anti-Indian policies,” and called for “more transparency relating to Tahir Javed’s lobbying and fundraising⁣ roles.”

Omar has introduced legislation ‌to strengthen FARA in order ​to ensure that “lobbyists representing foreign countries‌ act in good faith and ⁤operate with full transparency.”

Omar, Javed, the ​Democratic‌ National Committee, and the Pakistani embassy did not respond to requests for comment.