CONTROVERSIAL landlord Mohammed Aslam today promised all his Glasgow tenants he would repair their homes - once his army of part-time tradesmen got time off their day jobs.

CONTROVERSIAL landlord Mohammed Aslam today promised all his Glasgow tenants he would repair their homes - once his army of part-time tradesmen got time off their day jobs.

The landlord, who was forced to shut down a cockroach-infested flat he rented out in Govanhill, today admitted he couldn't cope with the demands of running all the properties he owns.

In an interview with the Evening Times, the secretive property owner claimed: l His life was in danger after we exposed conditions at a number of his properties this week l Tenants were to blame for all of the problems l He would sue the council, which forced the closure of the flat in Govanhill, over treatment he said was unfair Mr Aslam spoke out after we contacted him about dangerous conditions at a house he rents to mum Yvonne Harvey in Shawlands.

Her story emerged following the closure of the Govanhill flat, which had been home to a Slovakian Roma family of 11.

Hitting back at the coverage, Mr Aslam accused Evening Times reporters of being evil, devious "lowlifes" and even said the paper, as part of the media, was to blame for the death of Princess Diana.

Mr Aslam warned: "You think you are very smart. I am going to come up and see you one of these days.

"I am not a violent person but you have violated my statutory rights."

Asked if he was threatening violence, he replied: "Oh no. I am a businessman, not an evil person like you."

He insisted that residents of the Govanhill flat closed by the city council had thrown rubbish from windows and damaged his flat themselves.

The landlord claimed he suffered racial discrimination from the council after it shut down the Allison Street flat, which had no central heating or hot water.

He said he had traced the family and accused them of destroying antique fixtures in the property.

Mr Aslam said: "I told them to write down what the council did when they came and took photos.

"If I find the council negligent in any way I am going to ask my lawyer to file a lawsuit.

"I think Glasgow council needs a wake-up call."

He later insisted: "The council did me a very big favour putting these people out.

"Now I'm going to ask the council to put every one of these Slovakian people out. It's not racial - they do too much damage.

"I'd rather have an alcoholic or a guy who abuses drugs because at least when he's sober he'll clean up."

After our stories this week, he claimed: "You put my life in danger. People called me and they threatened me."

He said he was racially abused by a Glaswegian boy demanding to know how he had come to own so many houses.

Yesterday we revealed conditions at a house he rents to bar worker Yvonne Harvey and son Jack, who has asthma.

Ms Harvey has been withholding part of the rent on the flat after Mr Aslam refused to repair dangerous electrical equipment and fix water damage and damp that has led to mushrooms growing in one cupboard.

She will face her landlord in court later this month but Mr Aslam said: "I'm going to put her out, no matter what.

"I'm selling my house and moving in there myself."

He confirmed he had refused to carry out repairs while Ms Harvey's rent was in arrears.

He accused her of breaking the bath, causing the major leak, saying: "She weighs a ton. She must have cracked the bath, or something. I don't know."

Following our reports this week, Mr Aslam said he was visiting all of his properties to see what repairs were needed.

He said: "I don't have enough time to do all the work. I have people who work for me - they are electricians from Europe.

"They work for me in the evening and when they have free time."

He replied to a reader's comment on our website that he furnished his flats from car boot sales by saying: "What is wrong with going to the Sunday markets and buying stuff? Is it a crime to do the work yourself?"

Despite a substantial property empire, Mr Aslam said he did not have an office and instead invited us to meet him at a fast-food restaurant or the local library.

HE DENIED suggestions he owned around 60 flats, many in Govanhill, but refused to say how many homes were in his portfolio.

He said: "Maybe I own 60, maybe I own five, maybe I own two. That's nobody's business."

He said he built his empire from scratch, saying: "When I came from Pakistan, I didn't speak a word of English. Slowly I learned and got into business myself.

"I still work, I clean toilets, whatever. That is why I am successful, I am not afraid to work."

Mr Aslam invited us to meet him again - with one condition.

He said: "I'll meet you face to face but don't bring a photographer or I might do something stupid. I might swear and I don't want to swear at anybody.

"I just want to make money for my children. We are the backbone of our society.

"The only thing I regret is that when Diana died, I cried.

"That woman: remarkable. I wouldn't cry for anybody else but for that woman I did.

"And you media, look what you did. The paparazzi and the media - they are behind the death of a wonderful woman.

"She did not deserve to die the way she did and you people are to blame."