UK signs off £153m aid to Pakistan They wont even take back Rochdale grooming gang Boss

The Government has approved a new £153 million aid package for Pakistan, despite an escalating diplomatic dispute over the case of convicted Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed, who Britain wants to deport but Pakistan has so far refused to accept.

The decision has triggered fierce political criticism, with opposition parties accusing ministers of rewarding a country that is refusing to cooperate over the removal of one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders.

Aid approved despite deportation dispute

Foreign Office figures released this week show Britain will provide Pakistan with £153 million over the next three years.

The announcement came as Downing Street insisted it is doing "everything possible" to remove Ahmed following his release from prison after serving 14 years behind bars.

Ahmed, 73, was convicted in 2012 for leading a Rochdale grooming gang responsible for dozens of child sexual offences, including rape, trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable girls as young as 12.

Pakistan rejects responsibility

Pakistan has publicly distanced itself from Ahmed, arguing that his crimes were committed entirely in Britain after he spent most of his life in the UK.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Ahmed was a British national who committed offences on British soil and that the case was "entirely an internal matter of the United Kingdom."

He added that Ahmed's actions required "serious introspection" within Britain rather than attempts to place responsibility elsewhere.

Pakistani MP Danyal Chaudhry also argued that Ahmed's upbringing in Britain, rather than his birthplace, shaped the man he became.

Legal barriers remain

Although Ahmed was born in Pakistan and arrived in Britain as a teenager, he was later stripped of his British citizenship.

However, ministers say they remain unable to deport him because of legal protections dating back to the Immigration Act 1971 and because Pakistan has not agreed to accept his return.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to amend the law to prevent similar cases blocking deportations in future.

Downing Street said senior ministers are continuing diplomatic discussions with Islamabad in an effort to secure Ahmed's removal.

Opposition attacks Government

The timing of the aid announcement prompted strong criticism from opposition politicians.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Britain should suspend both overseas aid and new visas for Pakistani nationals until Islamabad agrees to accept convicted offenders such as Ahmed.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel accused the Government of approving the funding while failing to secure Ahmed's deportation.

Reform UK also called for all aid payments to Pakistan to be halted, arguing that British taxpayers should not continue funding overseas programmes while deportation requests remain unresolved.

Government defends aid programme

Ministers insist none of the £153 million will go directly to the Pakistani government.

Instead, officials say the funding will support charities, humanitarian organisations and development programmes aimed at improving stability, economic resilience and public services.

The Foreign Office said helping create "a safer, more resilient Pakistan" ultimately benefits the UK by reducing instability, illegal migration and wider security risks.

Deportation remains uncertain

Despite the Government's stated determination to remove Ahmed, officials acknowledge that his deportation ultimately depends on securing Pakistan's cooperation.

The dispute has become a fresh flashpoint in the wider debate over immigration, foreign aid and Britain's ability to deport foreign-born criminals once they have completed their prison sentences.

For now, Ahmed remains in the UK while diplomatic negotiations continue, with ministers hoping changes to the law and increased pressure on Islamabad will eventually allow his removal.

The Government has approved a new £153 million aid package for Pakistan, despite an escalating diplomatic dispute over the case of convicted Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed, who Britain wants to deport but Pakistan has so far refused to accept.

The decision has triggered fierce political criticism, with opposition parties accusing ministers of rewarding a country that is refusing to cooperate over the removal of one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders.

Aid approved despite deportation dispute

Foreign Office figures released this week show Britain will provide Pakistan with £153 million over the next three years.

The announcement came as Downing Street insisted it is doing "everything possible" to remove Ahmed following his release from prison after serving 14 years behind bars.

Ahmed, 73, was convicted in 2012 for leading a Rochdale grooming gang responsible for dozens of child sexual offences, including rape, trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable girls as young as 12.

Pakistan rejects responsibility

Pakistan has publicly distanced itself from Ahmed, arguing that his crimes were committed entirely in Britain after he spent most of his life in the UK.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Ahmed was a British national who committed offences on British soil and that the case was "entirely an internal matter of the United Kingdom."

He added that Ahmed's actions required "serious introspection" within Britain rather than attempts to place responsibility elsewhere.

Pakistani MP Danyal Chaudhry also argued that Ahmed's upbringing in Britain, rather than his birthplace, shaped the man he became.

Legal barriers remain

Although Ahmed was born in Pakistan and arrived in Britain as a teenager, he was later stripped of his British citizenship.

However, ministers say they remain unable to deport him because of legal protections dating back to the Immigration Act 1971 and because Pakistan has not agreed to accept his return.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to amend the law to prevent similar cases blocking deportations in future.

Downing Street said senior ministers are continuing diplomatic discussions with Islamabad in an effort to secure Ahmed's removal.

Opposition attacks Government

The timing of the aid announcement prompted strong criticism from opposition politicians.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Britain should suspend both overseas aid and new visas for Pakistani nationals until Islamabad agrees to accept convicted offenders such as Ahmed.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel accused the Government of approving the funding while failing to secure Ahmed's deportation.

Reform UK also called for all aid payments to Pakistan to be halted, arguing that British taxpayers should not continue funding overseas programmes while deportation requests remain unresolved.

Government defends aid programme

Ministers insist none of the £153 million will go directly to the Pakistani government.

Instead, officials say the funding will support charities, humanitarian organisations and development programmes aimed at improving stability, economic resilience and public services.

The Foreign Office said helping create "a safer, more resilient Pakistan" ultimately benefits the UK by reducing instability, illegal migration and wider security risks.

Deportation remains uncertain

Despite the Government's stated determination to remove Ahmed, officials acknowledge that his deportation ultimately depends on securing Pakistan's cooperation.

The dispute has become a fresh flashpoint in the wider debate over immigration, foreign aid and Britain's ability to deport foreign-born criminals once they have completed their prison sentences.

For now, Ahmed remains in the UK while diplomatic negotiations continue, with ministers hoping changes to the law and increased pressure on Islamabad will eventually allow his removal.

SOURCE

The UK humiliates itself on the world stage yet again.

I thought all this foreign aid was supposed to provide leverage in incidents like this. Pakistan are laughing all the way to the bank. 😄

Restore UK would stop all this.

In the UK we don't actually have a government that has a backbone. We have a bunch of morons pretending to represent the people of the UK which they 100% do not.