UK opposition politicians have called for foreign aid and visa restrictions on Pakistan after Islamabad refused to accept the deportation of convicted child rapist Shabir Ahmed…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Political leaders in the United Kingdom have called on the Labour government to suspend foreign aid and impose visa restrictions on Pakistan after Islamabad refused to accept the deportation of convicted child rapist Shabir Ahmed, according to a report by The Telegraph.
Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan, was recently released from prison after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences linked to the Rochdale grooming gang. The UK government is seeking to deport him to Pakistan, but Pakistani authorities have so far declined to accept his return, The Telegraph reported.
The issue has gained further political attention following confirmation that the UK government has approved a three-year £153 million foreign aid package for Pakistan.
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, called for immediate action against Islamabad, writing on X: “Pakistan. No foreign aid. No visas. Until you take back rapist Ahmed.”
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, criticised the government’s decision to continue financial assistance to Pakistan.
“The fact Labour plans to continue to send them aid is proof the political class do not care about the British people. Reform will stop foreign aid and visas issued to Pakistan immediately,” he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel also questioned the government’s decision to maintain aid to Pakistan while the deportation remains unresolved.
“The fact Labour have approved £153m aid for Pakistan when they are refusing to take back Shabir Ahmed tells you all you need to know,” Patel said, adding that it was “no surprise that Labour slipped this out on the last day of this session of Parliament, so nobody can hold them to account”, according to the report.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called for a broader response, urging the government to suspend both aid and new visas until Pakistan agrees to accept Ahmed and other Pakistani nationals convicted of grooming gang offences.
“Vile paedophile child rapists who came here from Pakistan should all be deported back,” Philp said. “We should stop all overseas aid and issuance of new visas for Pakistani citizens until they take Ahmed and those like him back.”
According to The Telegraph, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated last week that the government was prepared to consider sanctions if Pakistan continued to refuse Ahmed’s return.
Speaking before the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Cooper said the government would consider using “all possible levers” to secure the deportation. She added that the UK had previously persuaded several countries to accept the return of foreign criminals after the prospect of sanctions was raised.
The case has intensified political debate over immigration, deportation powers and the UK’s relationship with Pakistan, with opposition parties pressing the Labour government to link foreign aid and visa policy to cooperation on the return of convicted foreign offenders.
