Labour slips Pakistan £153million in 'aid' while it refuses to take back Rochdale rape gang ringleader

Labour ministers have given the green light to hand Pakistan £153million in aid - despite the South Asian country refusing to take back Rochdale rape gang monster Shabir Ahmed.

Last night, the Foreign Office released figures for the aid package for the next three years, despite the Government claiming it was doing "everything possible" to kick the Pakistani-born paedophile out of the country.

The 73-year-old walked free from prison earlier this month after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences.

Ahmed was placed in a secure bail hostel following his release - but has since been moved after the location was leaked on social media.

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Senior Tory and Reform UK figures have blasted the Government's decision to keep handing out aid to Pakistan while the country refusing to take back convicted grooming gang members.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Vile paedophile child rapists who came here from Pakistan should all be deported back.

"We should stop all overseas aid and issuance of new visas for Pakistani citizens until they take Ahmed and those like him back."

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel told the Mail: The fact Labour have approved £153million aid for Pakistan when they are refusing to take back Shabir Ahmed tells you all you need to know.

"No surprise that Labour slipped this out on the last day of this session of Parliament - so nobody can hold them to account.'

Meanwhile, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said the decision was "proof the political class do not care about the British people".

"Reform will stop foreign aid and visas issued to Pakistan immediately," he added.

The announcement of the latest aid package to Islamabad comes after the South Asian country blamed Britain for turning the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader to a life of crime.

GROOMING GANGS - BRITAIN'S SHAME:

• Ex-Attorney General urges 'weak' Labour to fight for Pakistan to accept Shabir Ahmed
• Rochdale grooming gang ringleader forced to move from bail hostel after location shared online
• Eight men charged as part of grooming gang in South Wales sexually exploiting children

Tahir Andrabi, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesman, pointed the finger at the UK for Shabir Ahmed's crimes because he "grew up, was raised, groomed and, unfortunately, spoiled" in Britain.

He said the onus was "exclusively" on Britain, declaring publicly for the first time that Pakistan would not be taking back the 73-year-old paedophile, despite him being born there.

Mr Andrabi said in a statement today: "His heinous crimes demand serious introspection rather than a quest to search for extraneous causes."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Monday she would change immigration laws to close a loophole which currently prevents the paedophile's deportation.

The 1971 Immigration Act currently forbids the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973.

Downing Street has insisted that the Government is "engaging" with Islamabad and "doing everything possible to deport him".

No10 has insisted that the aid package will not be handed over to the Pakistani Government and instead be delivered to charities and other bodies operating within the country.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said the aid will help forge a "safer, more resilient Pakistan" which would help limit "security and migration risks to the UK".

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