𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Zia Yusuf has vowed to sanction members of the Pakistani government, freeze their assets and impose a “blanket ban on visas” if they refuse to take back illegal migrants and foreign criminals. Reform’s home affairs spokesman issued a furious response after officials in Islamabad threatened to stop taking failed asylum seekers back, as the row over grooming gang monster Shabir Ahmed intensified.

Pakistani representatives insisted there was “gold standard cooperation”, despite refusing to take back the predator after he was released from prison. But Mr Yusuf warned Pakistan it will pay a heavy price if Nigel Farage wins the next election – including a ban on visitors coming to the UK.

The Home Office issued 138,747 entry clearance visas in the year to March, including 88,553 visitor visas.

Reform’s Zia Yusuf told the Daily Express: “There is a huge population of Pakistanis in Britain illegally, many of whom overstay their visas and claim asylum.

“They are not being deported, so this ‘threat’ is laughable. As Home Secretary I will ensure Pakistan takes back the Rochdale Monster Shabir Ahmed, and all its illegal migrants.

“If they don’t, I will place a blanket ban on visas for Pakistani nationals, sanction members of their government and freeze their assets in Britain.”

Ahmed, who targeted girls as young as 12, hid behind a 50-year-old law protecting Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was forced into closing the loophole, amid widespread fury.

Ahmed, 73, was released from prison after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences.

The predator was one of nine men from Rochdale and Oldham found guilty of exploiting girls as young as 12 at two takeaway restaurants.

After leaving prison, he was sent to 24-hour staffed accommodation and fitted with a GPS electronically monitored tag.

Pakistani sources hinted they could limit collaboration on intelligence, security and organised crime if they are forced to take back Ahmed.

But only 63 Pakistani criminals were deported last year, down from 263 in 2012. In 2021, it fell as low as 18.

The bombshell Home Office figures heap pressure on claims Pakistan is already doing enough.

Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, said: “The Pakistani government already makes it incredibly difficult for Britain to return illegal migrants and foreign criminals, seeing our country as a dumping ground for their very worst.

“Their lack of cooperation has only worsened in recent years, as evidenced by the decline in overall returns and deportations.

“They are clearly not operating in good faith and in no position to begin issuing ultimatums.

“Quite frankly, now is the time for us to stand up for ourselves by implementing a visa ban on Pakistani nationals, refusing to countenance visa extensions for those already here, and ending all foreign aid.”

One senior Pakistani official told The Telegraph: “Britain’s continued pressure over the Shabir Ahmed case appears to be driven by domestic political pressures rather than by an appreciation of the legal and diplomatic complexities involved. This risks undermining broader bilateral cooperation.

“We believe that the relations between the two countries should not be jeopardised because of political challenges facing the UK Government at home. Let’s not play politics with each other’s security and be honest.”

A second official added: “Pakistan has consistently worked closely with successive UK governments, not only by accepting the return of failed asylum seekers and immigration offenders after they had exhausted all legal avenues to remain in Britain, but also by going beyond its treaty obligations to facilitate the return or handover of individuals wanted by UK authorities in criminal cases.

“The UK Government has repeatedly told us it’s gold standard cooperation.”

He said Pakistan’s cooperation had extended beyond immigration to sustained collaboration on intelligence, security and organised crime, often in support of UK national security interests.

But he warned: “These relations could be affected in all areas if the issue of Shabir Ahmed was forced upon Pakistan. It cannot be one way traffic.”

Under Labour’s proposed changes, foreign criminals will be barred from the arcane protection given to Commonwealth citizens when they are guilty of certain types of serious and organised crime – such as human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, war crimes or posing a national security threat.

The threshold for this new power to be used will be the same as that applied when removing a person’s citizenship.

But a third Pakistani official added: “He is a 73-year-old man who has lived for more than 60 years in Britain.

“He is, for all practical purposes, a product of British society. It is therefore difficult to understand why the UK expects Pakistan to take responsibility for someone who was raised, lived and committed his crimes in Britain, instead of addressing the matter within its own jurisdiction.”