In brief
Shabir Ahmed, convicted of rape and sexual offences against girls, was released on licence after a 22‑year prison sentence. The UK government wants him removed to face punishment in Pakistan, but Pakistani officials insist the matter is solely a British legal issue. Legislation from 1971 protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973, and a proposed amendment would lift this protection only for serious crimes. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the act should not hinder removal in Ahmed’s case, while Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirms it has no role in his asylum decisions.
Shabir Ahmed, the former head of the Rochdale and Oldham grooming gang, has been released on licence after a 22‑year prison sentence. The UK government has sought his deportation to Pakistan, but Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declined to cooperate.
Ahmed’s case is wrapped up in the 1971 Immigration Act, which protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973. The UK has proposed an amendment to remove that protection for individuals convicted of serious crimes. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the act should not serve as a barrier in Ahmed’s situation.
Pakistan officials argue that Ahmed is a British national who spent his adult life in the UK and was convicted by a British court. They emphasise that any decision regarding his release or potential resignation lies solely within the jurisdiction of British authorities. “The matter is wholly internal to the United Kingdom,” said Tahir Andrabi, spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Prior to his conviction, Ahmed was stripped of his UK passport. After his release, he has been placed under a GPS‑monitored, 24‑hour accommodation regime and will return to prison if he breaches licence conditions. Victims of the grooming gang continue to express fear and calls for stricter punishment.
The UK’s decision to deport Ahmed hinges on Pakistan accepting him, but the country maintains that it has no role in such a matter. The broader debate touches on how immigration law interacts with criminal justice, and whether the 1971 Act should be updated to reflect modern security concerns.
