UK considering visa restrictions if Pakistan does not take back grooming gang leader

Pakistan could be threatened with visa restrictions from the UK unless it takes back grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, the British government has indicated.

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will set out proposals on Monday to amend a 1971 law preventing the removal of Rochdale gang leader Ahmed, who was released from prison earlier this month.

But even if the law is changed, the UK could still be unable to deport him unless Pakistan, his country of origin, agrees to accept him – something Islamabad has so far indicated it will not do.

Ahmed was released on July 2 after serving 14 years since his conviction in 2012 for rape and sexual offences against girls, some as young as 12. He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

The British government has been examining ways to deport him since his release last week. The 1971 law forbids the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.

Ms Mahmood is expected to detail a way to close the loophole in Britain’s Immigration Act, which prevents his deportation even though he has already been stripped of his British citizenship.

Kier Starmer’s official spokesman acknowledged that changing the law was only the first step in deporting Ahmed.

The spokesman said: “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.”

Asked if that included the possibility of refusing to issue visas, the spokesman said: “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.”

UK victims’ minister Catherine Atkinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today that the threat of visa restrictions has produced results before.

She said the home secretary “has been absolutely clear that this government will take action to see Shabir Ahmed removed, and we’ve seen the success that she has had when it comes to removals in previous cases”.

“I think she threatened visa penalties for Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless they took back illegal immigrants,” she said.

“And four months later, all three were co-operating.”

Pakistan is not expected to accept Ahmed, the Press Association understands.

World

Murder of Ann Widdecombe being investigated as potential act of terrorism

The country is reportedly demanding the extradition of two political dissidents from the UK in order to do so.

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.”