A North West Euro MP who was caught up in the Mumbai massacre that killed more than 160 people has welcomed the conviction of one of its ringleaders — but urged India not to execute him.

Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim was in the Indian city in 2008 as part of an EU trade delegation when terrorists went on the rampage.

But despite fleeing terrorists in Mumbai’s luxurious Taj Mahal hotel as others were gunned down around him, Mr Karim said he did not believe Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab should be executed.

Prosecutors have called for the 22-year-old to be put to death after a court found him guilty of charges including murder, waging war on India and possessing explosives.

But Mr Karim, who lives in Simonstone and grew up in Brierfield, said: “I do not want to see him executed for this.

“To me it is a case of being fundamentally opposed to the death penalty and the way to achieve justice is not by taking another human’s life.”

After the terrorist attacks, which included the killings of scores of people in the Taj Mahal hotel, Mr Karim revealed how he had kept in touch with his family via text messages while barricaded in a restaurant.

This week he said he was still haunted by the terror.

He added: “It seems surreal to me now but it also seems as if it has just happened.

“The main thing is that I feel so lucky and I can use that as a positive thing because so many people were not so lucky.”

However, Mr Karim said he intended to return to India one day.

Qasab is the only gunmen still alive following the 2008 attacks.

Seven other people have been charged in connection with the atrocities.