Tough visa sanctions could be imposed by Britain on Pakistan to compel the country to accept the return of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, following his release from prison on Thursday, reports BritPanorama.
Diplomatic discussions between the two nations are currently underway concerning Ahmed, who is known as “Daddy” to his victims and was convicted in 2012 of thirty child rape offences against young girls. He served only 14 years of a 22-year sentence.
In addition to visa measures, officials are contemplating financial implications, such as withholding £50 million in foreign aid, to press Pakistan to facilitate his deportation. Another option could involve offering additional overseas aid as an incentive for his departure from the UK.
Ahmed is presently residing in a bail hostel and has been prohibited from visiting Rochdale or Oldham. Efforts to securely deport him face legal hurdles, including a longstanding 1971 law that restricts the removal of certain Commonwealth citizens, complicating the process even further given that Ahmed has renounced his Pakistani citizenship.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated the need to close this legal loophole to expedite Ahmed’s removal. There is currently no formal pathway for his deportation, necessitating ongoing talks with Pakistani officials.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has commented, “If a British citizen commits a criminal offence somewhere else or is in another country illegally, of course, we take back our own citizens. So we expect other countries, like Pakistan, to do the same when the boot is on the other foot.” He suggested that failure to cooperate might warrant cuts to foreign aid and visa sanctions against those countries.
A spokesperson for Number 10 emphasized that the issue has been raised with counterparts in Islamabad, reiterating the commitment to deport foreign national offenders. However, such actions often require the agreement of the receiving nation, which has not always been achieved.
The complexities surrounding Ahmed’s case highlight the broader challenges faced in international cooperation on deporting foreign offenders, underscoring the intersection of law and diplomatic relations.
