UK Threatens Visa Sanctions on Pakistan in Deportation Row Over Rochdale Grooming Gang Leader
- Xavi
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
LONDON — July 16, 2026 — The United Kingdom has warned that visa restrictions on Pakistan remain an option in an escalating diplomatic dispute over the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the convicted ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang .
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that the Labour government was ready to examine "all possible levers" to force Pakistan to accept the return of offenders Britain wants to remove .
"This person should not remain in the United Kingdom. He ought to be sent back." — Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary
Key Details at a Glance
Feature | Details |
Dispute | Deportation of Shabir Ahmed, Rochdale grooming gang leader |
UK Position | Visa sanctions remain an option if Pakistan refuses cooperation |
Pakistan Position | Case is an "internal British matter"; Ahmed is not a Pakistani national |
Legal Barrier | Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973 |
UK Legislative Response | Amendment to disapply Section 7 for serious criminals (child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, national security threats) |
Pakistan's Demand | Extradition of political dissidents from the UK, including Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja |
Precedent | Angola, Namibia, and DRC agreed to cooperate after UK threatened visa penalties |
The Shabir Ahmed Case
Shabir Ahmed, 73, was convicted in 2012 as the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang in a case involving rape and multiple sexual offences against vulnerable girls, some as young as 12 . He received a 22-year sentence and was released earlier this month after serving 14 years .
At the time of the offences, Ahmed held British citizenship. That citizenship was later removed, but his deportation has been prevented by Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971, which protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived here for at least five years . He also revoked his Pakistani identity before his conviction .
UK's Legal Response
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to amend the Immigration and Asylum Bill to give the Home Secretary a new power to disapply Section 7 of the 1971 Act for serious criminals .
The threshold for this power would be tied to the power to deprive citizenship, applying only in cases of "exceptional severity," including:
Child sexual exploitation
Human trafficking
War crimes
Crimes posing a threat to national security
"Regarding the deportation of foreign criminals, the government plans to propose an amendment to this bill in reaction to the highly-publicized case of the notorious grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed." — Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary
However, Mahmood acknowledged that changing British law does not guarantee removal — another country must still recognise Ahmed as its national and agree to take him back .
Pakistan's Position
Pakistan's first formal public response came from Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, who condemned child sexual abuse but rejected any attempt to associate the Pakistani state with Ahmed or decisions concerning his imprisonment and release .
"The Government of Pakistan has no connection whatsoever with this matter." — Tahir Andrabi, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson
Key Arguments from Pakistan:
Ahmed spent his adult life in Britain, committed his crimes there, and was convicted by a British court
The issue is an "internal British matter"
Ahmed revoked his Pakistani identity before his conviction
Responsibility lies with the society where Ahmed grew up
The Diplomatic Standoff: What Pakistan Wants in Return
Pakistan is reportedly demanding the extradition of political dissidents from the UK in exchange for accepting Ahmed .
Pakistan has requested the extradition of:
Shahzad Akbar — a past minister in Imran Khan's administration
Adil Raja — a journalist and government critic who was once a military officer
Altaf Hussain — the exiled founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who has lived in Britain for decades
Pakistan accuses them of disseminating anti-state propaganda or stirring unrest. The UK has consistently refused these requests, referencing its domestic legal standards, free speech protections, and human rights commitments.
The Precedent: UK Has Used This Strategy Before
British ministers have pointed to the cases of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Angola, which agreed to cooperate with returns after the UK threatened visa penalties .
Victims' minister Catherine Atkinson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme:
"I believe she warned Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo with visa penalties unless they accepted the return of illegal immigrants. Four months later, all three were cooperating.
What This Means for Pakistan-UK Travel
Potential Impact on Pakistani Travellers
Pakistan is the largest single nationality among UK asylum applicants, with over 10,000 applications last year
Visa restrictions could affect students, business travellers, and tourists
The UK currently has a returns agreement with Pakistan
Britain previously accepted back two members of the Rochdale grooming gang — Hamid Safi in 2013 and Mohammed Sajid in 2017 — but they had not renounced their citizenship
Current Status
No immediate visa sanctions have been announced
The threat remains part of diplomatic negotiations
A Prime Minister's spokesperson confirmed that "all options remain on the table" where countries do not cooperate on the return of their nationals
Related
UK High Court Rules "One-in, One-Out" Policy on Trafficking Claims Unlawful — Landmark ruling on modern slavery protections.
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