Pakistan refuses to take back grooming gang ringleader
Pakistan is refusing to accept the ringleader of a Rochdale grooming ring despite plans to change British law to allow him to be deported.
Shabir Ahmed, who spent 14 years in prison for numerous rape and sexual abuse of young girls, was released from prison last week. At the time, the government announced that although he was stripped of his British citizenship due to a 55-year-old law, he could not be deported.
Next week, the home secretary is expected to announce changes to the Immigration Act 1971 law to close the loophole that means people cannot be sent back to Pakistan.
However, it is understood that Pakistan currently refuses to accept Ahmed and has requested the extradition of the two political opponents from the UK.
Earlier this week a No 10 spokesman confirmed it had discussed the matter with officials in Islamabad.
Under the Immigration Act 1971, those who arrived in the UK before 1973 and lived in the UK for at least five years before being considered for deportation cannot be removed, as was the case for Ahmed.
It is unclear whether plans to close the loophole will come under separate fast-track legislation or as an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will be debated in the House of Commons on Monday.
Earlier this week, an Interior Minister said the government might consider emergency legislation.
Speaking to LBC last week, Labor Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith said Ahmed was one of “a small number” of people who came to the UK from Commonwealth countries 50 years ago and whose deportation the law prevented.
Baroness Smith also claimed Pakistan had refused to take Ahmed in, saying there was “work to be done” to persuade the country to accept him if Ahmed was deported.
He said: “We are doing everything we can, we are looking at every way to get this man out of the country.”
Following her release, the victims shared their fears with a person identified only as “Ruby” who said she feared for her and her children’s safety.
Ruby, who is supported by the Maggie Oliver Foundation, set up by a former police detective and tipster grooming gangs, said: “The original ringleader, who is well known in Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton, is coming out of prison, so even if he’s not in that area he still knows people and has the chance to talk to people in that area and that makes me distrustful.”
In a statement released through the foundation, Ruby said victims of abuse had been given “false promises” and were left “to fend for themselves” due to a lack of support from the authorities, and called for changes to the law to deport grooming gang members.
Ahmed was sentenced to 19 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court in 2012 as one of nine men accused of crimes against five girls.
This is breaking news. Updates to follow…
