The British government is considering imposing visa restrictions and other sanctions on Pakistan if the country's government continues to refuse the return of Shabir Ahmed, a convicted grooming gang leader. Whitehall sources indicated that all options are on the table to ensure Ahmed's deportation, including financial sanctions or withholding foreign aid.
Ahmed was released from HMP Leeds on Thursday after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offenses. He settled in the UK in 1967 as a 14-year-old, making him ineligible for deportation under the existing 1971 Immigration Act. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reportedly determined to change these rules.
A Whitehall source told The Times that while changing the law is possible, the diplomatic route is paramount. "It's our relations with the Pakistani government where we're going to come unstuck," the source stated, noting that Pakistan has been uncooperative in previous cases. Visa sanctions are viewed as a last-resort option and would require leadership from the Foreign Office.
The situation has drawn attention from political figures. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has urged the Home and Foreign Secretaries to review all possible options, stating that nothing should be off the table. A Foreign Office insider cautioned that such public demands could lead Britain to pay a high price in negotiations, as Pakistan is perceived as a sophisticated negotiator.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has positioned Ahmed's deportation as a key test for the government's ability to address public concerns about migration. Farage has called for the repeal of Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 and proposed suspending all visas for Pakistani nationals until Ahmed is accepted back by Pakistan. He argued that such a move would prompt Pakistan to agree to the repatriation within hours.
A No. 10 spokesperson confirmed that the issue has been raised with counterparts in Islamabad, stating, "We are committed to doing everything possible to deport foreign national offenders, and we're clear that they should have no place in this country."