asif malik, played by ashvin luximon from 1999 to 2003, is a school friend of martin fowler (james alexandrou). together they get into lots of trouble such as shoplifting and vandalism, getting into trouble with steve owen (martin kemp), but almost always when martin is caught, asif leaves him behind to explain himself to his mother pauline (wendy richard). his own family are never seen on-screen but are mentioned occasionally.