THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Rukhsar Ahmed, a prominent businessman and politician, lived in Manchester for many years, where he owned a restaurant on the city’s Curry Mile. During his time in the UK, he established strong influence within the local diaspora while traveling regularly between Britain and Pakistan.
In July 2024, Greater Manchester Police arrested Ahmed at Manchester Airport. He was questioned on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, and trafficking of vulnerable young girls living in children’s care homes in Rusholme during the early 1990s. Police suspect these offenses were part of a wider historic child sexual exploitation network operating in the area.
Evasion of UK Legal Accountability
After his arrest, Ahmed was released on police bail. When required to return to Manchester to answer bail, he failed to appear, claiming he was “too unwell to fly”. However, at the same time, social media posts showed him actively participating in political election rallies in Pakistan.
Shortly thereafter, Ahmed won a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir), representing the LA-4 Mirpur-IV constituency for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.
The Barrier of Political Influence
Because the UK and Pakistan lack a formal bilateral extradition treaty, securing the return of suspects relies heavily on discretionary cooperation between governments. Ahmed’s status as a newly elected lawmaker for the ruling political party creates significant obstacles to justice.
When powerful political figures use official positions, jurisdictional distance, and medical claims to avoid returning to court, it severely hinders law enforcement efforts.
For the victims of historic child abuse in Manchester, this situation leaves serious criminal allegations unresolved, raising concerns that political power will once again be leveraged to evade legal accountability.
References
1. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/05/former-pakistani-minister-arrested-alleged-child-rape-1990s-manchester?CMP=share_btn_url
