Grooming gang suspect who flew to Pakistan and got elected as an MP while on bail for rape refuses to say when he will return to Britain
A grooming gang suspect wanted in connection with rape and trafficking allegations fled to Pakistan while on bail and was subsequently elected as an MP for the ruling party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, raising serious questions about how he was able to evade British justice. Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed, 55, refused to give a date for his return to the UK when confronted by a journalist, instead dismissing the allegations against him as "propaganda" while declining to directly answer whether he had raped two underage girls.
Ahmed was arrested at Manchester Airport in July 2024 on suspicion of raping and trafficking at least two underage girls from care homes in Rusholme during the 1990s, as part of a wider investigation into historic child sexual abuse in Manchester. He was released on bail but left for Pakistan nearly two months ago, missing a police appointment after claiming he was too unwell to fly, only to be elected an MP days later. Traced to his office in Kharri Sharif, Mirpur, he issued a Facebook statement denying the allegations and said he would not comment further on legal advice; he is expected to answer bail within six weeks or face an arrest warrant and extradition proceedings, while Greater Manchester Police has declined to comment.
In short
- Rape suspect fled to Pakistan on bail, then got elected MP
- Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed, 55, refuses to say when he'll return to UK
- Faces arrest warrant and extradition if he misses bail deadline
Explained simply
“Grooming gang” is a term used in Britain for cases in which groups of offenders are accused or convicted of sexually exploiting children or young people. Police investigations can involve several suspects and may take years, with each person’s alleged role considered separately.
Bail usually allows a suspect to remain free while an investigation or court case continues, often subject to conditions such as reporting to police or limits on travel. The exact conditions in any case are important, because they determine whether a person was permitted to leave the country.
Pakistan is a separate legal jurisdiction from the UK, even though the two countries can cooperate on criminal matters. If a suspect is abroad, their return may depend on voluntary travel, legal agreements between the countries and decisions by the relevant authorities.