Three men are facing a total of 46 charges after a major investigation into historic child sex offences in Bury, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said on Monday. All three are due to appear at Manchester and Salford magistrates court for the first time on Wednesday.
Operation Sky Investigation
The charges follow Operation Sky, a complex and sensitive investigation regarding alleged offences in Bury between 1996 and 2002. GMP stated that officers are working with trauma-informed support services to safeguard and support all those affected, making their safety and wellbeing the number one priority.
The men, who are all British Pakistani, are accused of offences committed between 1996 and 2001 against 10 girls who were aged between 14 and 16 when the alleged offences took place.
Details of Charges
Ashfaq Khan, 46, from Bury, has been charged with 36 counts of rape of a female under the age of 16; one count of attempted rape of a female under the age of 16; one count of indecent assault; and one count of false imprisonment. Zaheer Iqbal, 52, from Accrington, has been charged with four counts of rape of a female under the age of 16 and two counts of false imprisonment. Qamar Jehangeer, 44, from Bolton, has been charged with four counts of rape of a female under the age of 16.
Court Appearance
The three men are due to appear on Wednesday at Manchester and Salford magistrates court, GMP confirmed. The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to work with support services for the victims.
