Pakistan has refused to accept the return of Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, thwarting deportation efforts by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. In a meeting on Thursday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar informed Mr. Miliband that his country was not legally bound to take Ahmed back.
Pakistani officials stated that they "currently do not have any legislation or formal mechanism under which we can take him back," according to reports. Ahmed, who was convicted of 30 child rape offenses, was released in July after serving 14 years in prison. While he has been stripped of his British citizenship, deporting him has proven difficult due to protections for Commonwealth citizens who arrived in Britain before 1973 under archaic legislation.
Pakistan has long maintained that Ahmed is Britain’s responsibility, citing his renunciation of Pakistani citizenship and his lifelong residence in the UK. Sources close to the meeting suggested that a deportation deal might only be possible if Britain handed over Pakistani dissidents, a move the government is unlikely to consider.
Taxpayer funds are currently being used to monitor Ahmed, who is subject to electronic tagging, restrictions on entering certain areas in Oldham and Rochdale, and round-the-clock supervision at a bail hostel. He is also prohibited from contacting specific individuals.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, criticized the outcome, stating, "Over the last 20 years, Tory and Labour governments have sent £6 billion of British taxpayer money in foreign aid to Pakistan in real terms. They issued 2 million visas to Pakistani nationals. All in the name of 'soft power'. Yet Pakistan won’t even take back the Rochdale Monster."
A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed ongoing efforts, stating, "We are pursuing every available lawful option to deport this criminal, working with the government of Pakistan. We will not give a running commentary on discussions."