The UK government's efforts to deport Shabir Ahmed, a ringleader of the notorious Rochdale grooming gang, have hit a significant hurdle with Pakistan firmly rejecting any involvement in the process. According to Tahir Andrabi, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed's situation is entirely an internal matter for the UK and must be resolved under British law.
Shabir Ahmed was convicted in 2012 alongside eight other men for their roles in the exploitation and abuse of underage girls in Rochdale and Oldham. The seriousness of their crimes led to lengthy prison sentences, with Ahmed serving 22 years before being released on licence earlier this month. Notably, despite holding dual British-Pakistani citizenship, his UK passport was revoked following conviction, yet his deportation remains complicated due to existing legislation.
The Immigration Act 1971 currently bars the removal of Commonwealth citizens who settled in the UK before 1973 and have resided here for at least five years. This legislative hurdle is now at the forefront of a government push to amend the law, with an aim to align deportation rules for serious foreign criminals with those concerning citizenship revocation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has expressed strong support for these changes, arguing that the 1971 Act "should not be used as a bar against removal in cases like Ahmed's."
However, any successful deportation of Ahmed would require Pakistan's consent, which remains uncertain. Mr Andrabi reiterates Pakistan's position, stating, "The individual concerned is a British national who spent his entire adult life in the UK and was convicted by a British court for heinous offences committed on British soil." He maintains that Pakistan cannot be associated with decisions regarding Ahmed's release or subsequent treatment under British law.
Following his release from prison, Ahmed was placed into 24-hour staffed accommodation and fitted with a GPS electronic tag, subject to stringent licence conditions. A breach of these conditions would result in his immediate return to prison. The situation has caused considerable distress among his victims, who have expressed feelings of fear and insecurity regarding his presence in the UK.