Pakistan threatens to halt migrant returns over Shabir Ahmed deportation row
Pakistan has threatened to stop taking back illegal migrants if Britain insists on deporting grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed, according to GB News.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Pakistan has threatened to stop taking back illegal migrants if Britain insists on deporting Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of a Rochdale rape gang, according to reports. The threat comes after Ahmed was released from prison last month after serving just 14 years of his 22-year sentence, and he has yet to be returned to his birth country.
Ahmed, described as a Pakistani pedophile, led a grooming gang that abused vulnerable girls in Rochdale. His release has sparked outrage, and questions have been raised about why he has not been deported. The UK government has said his deportation is unacceptable and that he must be sent back to Pakistan.
However, Pakistani officials have now reportedly warned that they will stop accepting any illegal immigrants from Britain if London insists on sending Ahmed back. This has created a diplomatic standoff, with the UK holding significant leverage over Pakistan, including around 150,000 visas issued to Pakistani nationals each year and nearly £114 million in foreign aid.
During a discussion on GB News, panellists argued that the UK should use this leverage to force Pakistan to take Ahmed back. One former minister said the British government should withdraw visas and any remaining aid if necessary. Another panellist suggested that the government should hold firm, noting that the number of people wanting visas from Pakistan far outweighs the number of illegal immigrants the UK wants to return.
The case has become a lightning rod for wider concerns about immigration and crime. The new Labour government has faced pressure to act decisively, with some suggesting that the women in the party are particularly furious about the situation. The government has not yet commented on the reported threat from Pakistan, but the home secretary has previously been described as taking a hard line on immigration.
No resolution has been announced, and it remains unclear how the UK will respond to Pakistan's threat. The government is expected to continue pressing for Ahmed's deportation, but the standoff could have wider implications for UK-Pakistan relations and the return of other illegal migrants.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| Pakistan threatened to stop taking back illegal immigrants if Britain deports Shabir Ahmed. | |
| Shabir Ahmed was released from prison after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence. | |
| The UK issues about 150,000 visas to Pakistan annually and provides £113.97 million in foreign aid. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused on the outrage over Shabir Ahmed's release and the perceived weakness of the government, particularly Andy Burnham, in deporting him. The channel framed the story as a diplomatic crisis and argued that the UK should use its leverage over Pakistan, including visas and aid, to force Ahmed's return. The tone was strongly critical of the government and sympathetic to the victims, with panellists calling for a tough stance.
- “pakistani officials are threatened to stop taking back any illegal immigrants if britain tries to force them to take back their pedophile Shabir Ahmed”
- “the british government has significant leverage uh with the government of pakistan and they should use it”
- “there are 150 000 visas issued by the uk to pakistan every year 113.97 million in foreign aid we've got lots of leverage why are we so cowardly”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.