The Government has indicated that Pakistan could face visa restrictions if it refuses to take back grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to propose amendments on Monday to a 1971 law that currently prevents the removal of Ahmed, a Rochdale gang leader who was released from prison earlier this month.
Legal Hurdles and Deportation Challenges
Even if the law is changed, the UK may still be unable to deport Ahmed unless Pakistan agrees to accept him. Islamabad has so far indicated it will not do so. Ahmed was released on July 2 after serving 14 years of a 19-year sentence for rape and sexual offences against girls, some as young as 12, following his conviction in 2012.
The 1971 law forbids the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago. Mahmood is expected to detail a way to close this loophole in the Immigration Act, which prevents Ahmed's deportation even though he has already been stripped of his British citizenship.
Government's Stance on All Options
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman acknowledged that changing the law is only the first step. “The country of origin must agree to take these vile criminals back and that’s why we’re working across government to explore every option in this case,” the spokesman said. When asked if this included refusing to issue visas, the spokesman added: “I think we’ve been clear that all options remain on the table where countries don’t co-operate on the return of their nationals.”
Victims’ minister Catherine Atkinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the threat of visa restrictions has produced results before. “I think she threatened visa penalties for Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless they took back illegal immigrants,” Atkinson said. “And four months later, all three were co-operating.”
Pakistan's Position and Political Reactions
Pakistan is not expected to accept Ahmed, according to the Press Association. The country is reportedly demanding the extradition of two political dissidents from the UK in return. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “If they don’t take him back, we can say: well, we’re simply going to stop or restrict issuing visas to people from Pakistan to come here. That, by the way, should apply to any country around the world who doesn’t take back its own citizens who are criminals or here illegally.”
