A reception was held at Waltham Forest town hall, in which the leader of an extreme Islamist party was “honoured” with a plaque.

Siraj ul Haq, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party and a member of the Pakistani senate, visited the borough last September.

Pictures have now been circulated online, showing him being presented with a plaque bearing the borough’s coat of arms by then-mayor and Labour councillor Saima Mahmud.

Mr Haq’s party is reported to have links to extremists and he has personally opposed the introduction of the Pakistan’s Women’s Protection Act- legislation protecting women against domestic and sexual abuse.

The news comes after Waltham Forest council launched an investigation following outrage when local blogger Khalid Iqbal Malik was also given a plaque in the Mayor’s Parlour.

He had previously called the fanatic who murdered a Pakistani politician a “martyr” in an online video.

The independent investigation into procedures, carried out by barrister Jonathon Auburn, found no council members or officers were aware of the Mr Malik’s “offensive” views at the time of the meeting.

Mr Auburn did however conclude: “One or two members of the community appear to enjoy the ability to arrange access to the Mayor and Mayor’s Parlour”.

In a statement, Waltham Forest council said: “When this matter first came to light we immediately launched an independent investigation.

“The conclusions and recommendations of that report then went to the council’s audit and governance committee, where new procedures for use of the Mayor’s Parlour and meeting rooms were agreed.

“The council takes matters of this nature very seriously, especially given the nature of our local community.

“Its members do not support hatred or extremism in any form and we are proud to be a tolerant and together borough, which residents from all walks of life, cultures and countries call home.”

Cllr Saima Mahmud declined to comment.