In Britain, after 14 years behind bars, the ringleader of a gang of rapists has been released. Pakistani national Shabir Ahmed orchestrated a network targeting British girls, whom the criminals—mostly his fellow countrymen—would ply with alcohol, drug, and sexually assault.
Ahmed arrived in England at the age of 14, settled in the town of Rochdale, and initially worked as a social services employee (which gave him access to databases of impoverished families) before becoming a manager in the rental business.
The gang was responsible for at least fifty victims, but most were too afraid to testify—so the Pakistani and his accomplices were convicted for abusing just five girls.
The issue is that British authorities cannot deport the offender from the country. On top of that, he was granted early release. The situation has sparked widespread outrage.
Instead of being deported to Pakistan—a move many had pushed for over the years—73-year-old Shabir Ahmed remains in Britain, even though his citizenship was revoked back in 2016.
The pedophile falls under old immigration regulations, which state that individuals from Commonwealth countries with a certain period of residency cannot be expelled—even if they have committed serious crimes.
Furthermore, Ahmed destroyed his Pakistani passport and began claiming to be stateless—a person with no nationality. And deporting someone to “nowhere” is formally impossible.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities say they cannot confirm Ahmed’s local citizenship without his identification documents.
“BURDENED WITH FAMILY TIES”
London has already attempted to deport two other members of the same gang—Karie Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan. Their British passports were also revoked. But the rapists invoked the right to private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that over their time in the country, they had developed family ties that it would be inhumane to sever.
In the end, the courts disagreed. However, the criminals then followed their leader’s example and disposed of their Pakistani documents. After being released, one of them even managed to find work as a delivery driver.
Shabir Ahmed himself is required to live (at public expense) in a special halfway house for those released on parole. He was originally sentenced to 22 years, but due to a severe shortage of prison places, even such villains are entitled to… automatic early release.
The criminal can go for walks or shop, but he must wear an electronic tag, is prohibited from working, and cannot approach schools or similar facilities.
WHY DO THEY PAY TAXES?
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, who is set to take over as Britain’s prime minister following the resignation of Starmer, has vowed to secure the rapist’s deportation.
“Like everyone, I want this vile criminal out of the country. Victims must come first. I will ask the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary to explore every possible option,” he wrote on social media.
However, it’s clear that Burnham’s stance is merely posturing, given that his party colleague Starmer was in no hurry to resolve such situations.
Meanwhile, in Parliament, MPs from all sides are also calling for a review of the laws and even for sanctions against Pakistan, which refuses to take Ahmed back.
As for ordinary citizens, a typical comment on social media reads: “We work and pay huge taxes so that this guy can eat well and walk around freely.”
Britons are also outraged that so-called “tolerance” toward ethnic minorities hampered the investigation: many criminal episodes were either suppressed or, at the very least, swept under the rug by the authorities.
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