Lead

The UK government has announced plans to change the law to allow the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the convicted ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, who was released from prison earlier this month. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Monday that an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill would give her new powers to override a legal protection that has so far prevented Ahmed's removal to Pakistan.

Ahmed, 73, was jailed in 2012 for 22 years for multiple child sexual offences, including rape, committed as the leader of a gang targeting girls in Rochdale, northern England. He left prison on licence under the early release programme after serving 14 years. Although his British citizenship was revoked following his conviction, leaving him with only Pakistani nationality, a provision in the 1971 Immigration Act bars the deportation of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived there for at least five years. Ahmed arrived before that cut-off, making him exempt.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Dawn, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post all confirmed that Ahmed has been released and that the Home Office plans to change the law. The Guardian highlighted Catherine Atkinson, the victims minister, who suggested on the Today programme that the Home Office might threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to accept Ahmed. The South China Morning Post focused on the political pressure on the Labour government, noting that Ahmed's release has revived public anger over the grooming gangs scandal and claims that officials failed to act because they feared accusations of racism.

Dawn and The Guardian both quoted Mahmood's statement to MPs, in which she said the amendment would ensure "the vilest foreign criminals" can be deported. The Guardian also reported that a government source said: "We are confident that there is a fix to deal with the domestic side of it but it is now down to the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] negotiations with Pakistan that will decide if [Ahmed] stays in the UK."

Key Claims

  • Shabir Ahmed was released from prison earlier this month after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences. He was the ringleader of a gang that targeted girls in Rochdale.
  • The Home Office plans to amend the 1971 Immigration Act to allow for the deportation of serious criminals like Ahmed. Mahmood announced the plan on Monday, saying she would bring forward an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
  • Pakistan has refused to accept Ahmed back, citing his claim that he has renounced his Pakistani citizenship. The UK disputes this, pointing to evidence that he did not go through the full and proper process to disavow his birthright.
  • Mahmood said the amendment would not guarantee Ahmed's removal, as Pakistan must agree to accept him. She added that ministers were continuing "to explore all avenues to pursue a deportation."
  • Catherine Atkinson, the victims minister, hinted that the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to accept Ahmed.

Perspectives

UK Government: The Home Office argues that the 1971 Immigration Act's protections for long-term residents should not act as a bar against removal in cases like Ahmed's. Mahmood said the amendment would provide a new power to disapply Section 7 of the Act for serious criminals.

Pakistan: The Pakistani government has so far refused to accept Ahmed, who claims to have renounced his Pakistani citizenship. The UK disputes that the renunciation was valid.

Opposition Parties: Opposition parties have demanded that the government pressure Pakistan to comply. Tory former minister Robbie Moore told the Commons he expected cross-party support for the legal change, saying: "When will the minister be bringing forward this legislation, so that we in this House can vote on it and make sure that this individual that has caused heinous crimes across Rochdale is deported?"

Home Office Minister Alex Norris: Responding to Moore, Norris said: "I can only be as clear as to say that all of those options are on the table."