Pakistan has declined to accept the return of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, placing responsibility on Britain where he was raised and lived most of his life. A foreign ministry spokesman stated that Ahmed’s offenses developed in the United Kingdom. Ahmed was released on licence two weeks ago after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape convictions. The UK government intends to deport him and has proposed immigration law changes to enable removal, while warning of possible visa curbs on Pakistan. Pakistani officials insist the matter falls solely under British jurisdiction, noting Ahmed is a UK national convicted by a British court for crimes on British soil. They claim he renounced Pakistani citizenship, a point disputed by Britain. Talks between the countries have continued for about a year, with Pakistan reportedly seeking the extradition of two dissidents in return. Ahmed has been relocated from approved housing in Lancashire after the address appeared online and remains barred from parts of Rochdale and Oldham. A local MP called for a wider exclusion zone and swift deportation.
