Why Britain has been blamed for crimes of Rochdale grooming gang leader

WorldPolitics
16 Jul 2026 • 10:12 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Why Britain has been blamed for crimes of Rochdale grooming gang leader

  • Pakistan has blamed the UK for the criminality of Shabir Ahmed, the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader, stating his crimes stemmed from his upbringing in Britain.
  • Ahmed, 73, was released on licence after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences, prompting the UK to seek his deportation to his birth country.
  • Pakistan's foreign office spokesman publicly declared the country would not take Ahmed back, asserting he is a British national whose offences were committed on British soil.
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is introducing new laws to enable Ahmed's deportation and has warned Pakistan of potential visa restrictions if they refuse to accept him.
  • Ahmed has been relocated from his approved accommodation after its location was disclosed online, while negotiations for his deportation have reportedly involved Pakistan demanding the extradition of two political dissidents.

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