Pakistan demands political dissidents in Britain in exchange for grooming gang abusers

An official familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Pakistanis had proposed the exchange amid its diplomacy with Britain on the deportation of grooming gang offenders in Rochdale.

It follows reports over the weekend in Pakistan the interior minister had made the proposal in a meeting with the British High Commissioner.

Website Drop Site News reported sources from the meeting it focussed on “a quid pro quo arrangement”: that Islamabad would accept the deportation of Pakistan-heritage grooming gang abusers in exchange for the extradition of two political dissidents.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Conservatives today, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the British government should reject any deal.

“If someone is likely to be politically persecuted, then it’s reasonable that we provide them with protection. There should not be some sort of false trade. Countries like Pakistan should take back their own nationals where required, including if they committed a criminal offence without conditions,” he said.

Earlier this year, GB News revealed a high-level Pakistani delegation had proposed that the Government would accept the sex abuser deportations if its flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, returned to flying to Britain.

It is understood British ministers were attempting to secure the deportation of Rochdale offenders Qari Rauf and Adil Khan, who were jailed in 2012, among others.

Earlier this year, Khan fled the UK, but calls for Rauf’s deportation have continued.

The pair used human rights legislation to resist their removal despite having their British citizenship stripped.

It is long-standing policy and practice the UK will neither confirm nor deny that an extradition request has been made or received.

The Pakistan High Commission in London was contacted for comment.

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