Ministers eye up potential visa restrictions among suite of sanctions for Pakistan if country's government refuses to accept return of 'monster' grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed

By CHRISTIAN CALGIE, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE Published: 18:41, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 18:43, 3 July 2026 The Government is eyeing up potential visa sanctions for Pakistan if they continue refusing to take back evil grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed. This afternoon, Whitehall sources said that all options for ensuring the deportation of the newly-freed Rochdale man are on the table, including visa sanctions, financial sanctions, or withholding foreign aid. It comes amid rising fury and political pressure, as both Nigel Farage and Andy Burnham urge the government to do whatever is necessary to remove the predator from Britain's streets. Mr Ahmed was released from HMP Leeds on Thursday after serving just 14 years of his 22-year sentence for the crime of 30 child rape offences. The existing 1971 Immigration Act bans the deportation of Commonwealth citizens living in Britain who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago, something Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is determined to change. Mr Ahmed settled here in 1967 as a 14-year-old, making him ineligible for deportation under existing rules. Today government sources said ministers were considering all options available to them to secure his removal, amid obstinance from the Pakistani government. A Whitehall source told the Times: 'Nobody's in any doubt that we can change the law — the 1971 Immigration Act is a problem and we're looking at what the art of the possible is and I'm sure there's some form of way to make that work. Shabir Ahmed was released from prison this week amid calls for his removal to Pakistan following his crimes Visa restrictions are among sanctions being considered by the government if diplomatic efforts fail The Foreign Office, led by Yvette Cooper, could also pull foreign aid funding for Pakistan if they refuse to cooperate  'But the most important part of this is the diplomatic side of things. If that doesn't get anywhere then we're completely stuck in terms of being able to deport him. 'It's our relations with the Pakistani government where we're going to come unstuck. It doesn't feel hugely likely given they've dug their heels in on previous cases.' A source added that it's 'technically true' that visa sanctions are among the options being considered, but these are viewed as a last-resort option. Any sanctions-based reprisals for the South Asian country would have to be led by the Foreign Office, not the Home Office. Earlier this week, Andy Burnham riled government feathers when he publicly called on the Home and Foreign Secretaries to 'review all possible options', adding 'they should consider nothing is off the table'. One Foreign Office insider warned that Mr Burnham's public demand that anything be done to secure Mr Ahmed will result in Britain paying a 'high price' to secure the outcome. They warned that Pakistan are 'very smart operators' who will now hold all the cards in the negotiations. Today Reform UK leader Nigel Farage set up the deportation of 'monster' Ahmed as Mr Burnham's first crucial hurdle in office to prove to wavering voters he can address their migration concerns. Mr Farage demanded: 'Ahmed is not British. He's a Pakistani national. He must be deported. But Labour say he can't be. 'Reform would repeal Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 so foreign rape gang perpetrators can be deported. And we would suspend ALL visas for Pakistanis until they agree to take back Shabir Ahmed. 'No visit, study, work, or family visas. None. Each year, we grant around 175,000 visas to Pakistani nationals - including to some very powerful ones keen on spending time in London. 'Their Government would agree to take back Ahmed within hours of us doing this. As with so many of the problems we face, deporting Shabir Ahmed is really about political will. 'Andy Burnham says all options are on the table, will he act?' A No. 10 spokesman said: 'We have raised this issue with our counterparts in Islamabad and we are committed to doing everything possible to deport foreign national offenders, and we're clear that they should have no place in this country.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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