Zohran Mamdani Picks Pakistani-American Lina Khan to Help Him Run New York

New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed Pakistani-American legal scholar Lina Maliha Khan to co-chair his transition team.

Mamdani, 34, who will make history as the first Muslim and South Asian to lead New York City, is set to be sworn in on January 1, 2026. As mayor, he will oversee the United States’ largest city — a position that carries a $116 billion annual budget and global attention.

Former chairperson of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 36-year-old Lina Maliha Khan, will co-lead the transition alongside three seasoned New York City Hall veterans. In a statement, she said:

New Yorkers have sent a clear message: it’s time to build a city that working people can actually afford. I’m honored to help Zohran assemble a team that can deliver on that vision and set a new model for Democratic governance.

During her tenure as FTC chair under President Joe Biden, Lina Khan became a central figure in the administration’s antitrust and consumer protection agenda. She pushed for tougher scrutiny of corporate mergers and targeted exploitative practices such as “junk fees” and mandatory arbitration clauses that limit consumer rights.

Her efforts earned widespread praise from progressives who supported her drive to rein in corporate power. However, her aggressive approach toward Big Tech companies like Amazon and Google also sparked tensions within Silicon Valley.

Known for her bold stance on market monopolies, Lina Maliha Khan took on corporate giants including Amazon and Microsoft, gaining bipartisan respect. Even conservative figures such as J.D. Vance (now U.S. Vice President) and Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist, acknowledged her commitment to fair competition.

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New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed Pakistani-American legal scholar Lina Maliha Khan to co-chair his transition team. Mamdani, 34,… Read More

The post Zohran Mamdani Picks Pakistani-American Lina Khan to Help Him Run New York appeared first on ProPakistani.