'He's British!' Zack Polanski says it 'doesn't make sense' to deport Rochdale rape gang ringleader

Zack Polanski has said it does not make sense to deport the ringleader of a Rochdale rape gang to Pakistan.

The Green Party leader dismissed calls to deport Shabir Ahmed, 73, after the convicted sex offender was released from prison following his sentence for multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 13 years old.

Ahmed was released from prison last month after being jailed for 22 years for 30 child rape offences and 19 years for child sex offences and trafficking in 2012.

The 73-year-old, who was born in Pakistan, was stripped of his British citizenship following his conviction.

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Discussing the case on ITV, Mr Polanski said: "I don't think we should be making these (decisions) on a case-by-case basis.

"I think we need to make sure we have consistency and also make sure we stick to the rule of law."

He continued: "He committed those crimes in Britain so it makes sense to me that as a British citizen he stays in a British prison.

"I accept there may be more details I'm not privy to, I'm not the justice minister or in the Home Office."

Mr Polanski went on to argue it "doesn't make diplomatic sense" to deport Ahmed if he still poses a threat, instead arguing: "It makes sense to me that he is maintained in prison until he's not a threat."

However, other political figures have been pushing for Ahmed's deportation to Pakistan.

Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed "nothing is off the table" after being pushed by backbench Labour MPs to take action.

Meanwhile, Tory and Reform UK MPs have demanded that Labour suspends all foreign aid payments to Pakistan.

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Labour is also under pressure to impose visa sanctions until Pakistan takes Ahmed back.

Ahmed, who also holds Pakistani citizenship, is believed to have arrived in the UK at the age of 14.

Ministers were prevented from deporting him due to a 1971 law which protects the rights of Commonwealth citizens living here.

However, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood opened the door to Ahmed's deportation.

Ms Mahmood insisted legislation enacted in 1971 "should not be used as a bar against removal in cases like that of Shabir Ahmed".

However, the Home Office has accepted Islamabad must accept Ahmed's deportation.

But a spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry insisted Ahmed is a problem for the UK to sort.

Tahir Andrabi told the BBC: "The matter in question is entirely an internal matter of the United Kingdom.

"The individual concerned is a British national who spent his entire adult life in the UK and was duly convicted by a British court for reprehensible offences committed on British soil.

"Any decision regarding his release, supervision of usual legal status, falls exclusively within the jurisdiction of the competent British authorities and must be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom.

"Regardless of where he was born, the onus lies on where he grew up, was raised, groomed, and unfortunately spoiled."

A No10 spokesman previously said: "We are engaging with the Pakistan government at a senior level, doing everything possible to deport him."

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