Nigel Farage has issued a deportation ultimatum to Pakistan after they rejected appeals from Labour to take back Rochdale grooming gang ringleader, Shabir Ahmed.
Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, told Ed Miliband there was no bilateral agreement between the two countries which would legally allow the transfer of child rapists.
The UK requested the deportation of Ahmed back to his birth country after he was released from prison on July 2.
However, it is unlikely that Islamabad will agree to the paedophile’s return unless the UK hands over Pakistani dissidents in a quid pro quo-style deal.
During diplomatic discussions on the matter, Pakistani negotiators are understood to have said: “We currently do not have any legislation or formal mechanism under which we can take him back.”
Reform Leader Nigel Farage described the appeals as “humiliating” for Britain as he vowed to cut off foreign aid and ban new visas for Pakistani nationals if he was elected Prime Minister and the country continued to reject proposals.
He wrote on social media: “Pakistan has told Ed Miliband they ‘cannot’ take Shabir Ahmed back.
“They’re humiliating us and all Labour can do is plead with them.”
Nigel Farage took to social media to issue his ultimatum
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He added: “As Prime Minister, I won’t be bullied by Pakistan.
“I’ll cut off every penny of their foreign aid and ban new visas for Pakistani nationals if they refuse to take Ahmed back.
“If they still refuse, I’ll sanction members of their government and freeze their assets.
“If they want a fight, I’ll give them one.”
The UK and Pakistan have been in discussions over Ahmed’s deportation for over a year, it is understood | PA
Ahmed, 73, who moved to the UK in the late 1960s, was convicted in 2012 of 30 sexual offences, including child rape.
Some incidents involved girls as young as 12 years old.
His UK citizenship was revoked due to his crimes.
However, the 1971 Immigration Act currently forbids the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in Britain before 1973.
Ed Miliband asked his Pakistani counterpart directly if they would consider taking place Shabir Ahmed | PA
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said last month she would change the law to close the loophole which currently prevents Ahmed’s deportation.
This proposed plan has failed to materialise.
Pakistan initially refused to take the paedophile back on the basis that he had forfeited his Pakistani citizenship and had grown up in the UK.
Tahir Andrabi, Pakistan’s foreign spokesman, said last month that the UK was responsible for Ahmed as he “grew up, was raised, groomed and, unfortunately, spoilt”.
Government sources said the UK was considering imposing sanctions on Pakistan
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An official statement was released following a meeting between Mr Miliband and his Pakistani counterpart, but omitted the Ahmed issue.
It said the two countries “reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-United Kingdom bilateral relations and agreed to establish a structured mechanism for formal talks between the two foreign ministries to cover all areas of co-operation, to further strengthen bilateral co-operation and regularly review progress in key areas.”
Government sources said the UK was considering imposing sanctions on Pakistan, including visa bans and ceasing foreign aid payments, if it did not take back the paedophile.
Speaking on the deportation of Ahmed, a Foreign Office spokesman previously told GB News: “We are pursuing every available lawful option to deport this criminal, working with the government of Pakistan.
“We will not give a running commentary on discussions.”