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Farage Threatens Pakistan Over Rochdale Gang Leader Deportation
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Firstpost•14-10-2026, 08:09
Farage Threatens Pakistan Over Rochdale Gang Leader Deportation
- •Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has threatened flight bans, visa restrictions, and asset freezes if Pakistan refuses to take back Shabir Ahmed.
- •Shabir Ahmed, 73, is the former ringleader of the Rochdale child grooming gang and was jailed in 2012 for child sexual offences including rape.
- •Ahmed was stripped of his British citizenship following his conviction and was released from prison on licence in July.
- •Pakistan is currently resisting UK deportation attempts, stating that the case is an internal matter for the United Kingdom.
Key Questions Answered
Nigel Farage threatened to impose flight bans, visa bans, freeze Pakistani nationals' assets in London, and potentially introduce tariffs if Pakistan continues refusing to accept Shabir Ahmed.
Ahmed cannot be deported due to a long-standing law, specifically provisions under the UK's Immigration Act 1971 that protect certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in Britain before 1973, despite his British citizenship having been revoked after his 2012 conviction.
Pakistan has refused to accept Ahmed, stating that his case is an internal matter for the United Kingdom since he spent his entire adult life in the UK and was convicted by a British court.
