UK minister suggests visa threats to deport Rochdale grooming gang leader to Pakistan
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood may use visa restrictions against Pakistan to force the deportation of convicted child rapist Shabir Ahmed.
The UK government is considering threatening Pakistan with visa penalties to secure the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the former leader of the Rochdale grooming gang. Victims Minister Catherine Atkinson hinted at this approach in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday.
Ahmed, a former British-Pakistani dual national, had his British citizenship revoked. He was recently released from prison after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences. Victims were told he would be deported upon release, but this is currently impossible under the Immigration Act 1971, which exempts those who arrived in the UK before 1973—Ahmed's case.
The government initially planned to amend the law to remove this exemption. However, the Conservatives argued this would be pointless as Pakistan has refused to accept Ahmed. Now, it appears Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will adopt the Tory proposal: stopping the issuance of visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to take him.
Atkinson noted Mahmood's track record in similar situations. She previously threatened visa penalties against Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo if they did not take back illegal immigrants. Within four months, all three countries complied.
When asked if the UK would return political dissidents to Pakistan as part of a deal, Atkinson declined to speculate but stressed Mahmood's ability to achieve progress where others had failed.
The case has sparked public outrage in the UK. Ahmed was convicted of grooming and raping girls in Rochdale between 2002 and 2008. The government is determined to ensure his removal.
