Former Azad Kashmir Minister Arrested Over 1990s UK Grooming Allegations

Former Azad Kashmir legislator Rukhsar Ahmed was detained in July 2024 on suspicion of raping and trafficking girls in Manchester during the 1990s and is now out on bail.

Former state minister Rukhsar Ahmed, 62, was taken into custody in July 2024 on accusations that he raped and trafficked under-age girls in Manchester during the 1990s, a claim brought forward by two alleged victims this year. Ahmed, a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, had recently secured re-election to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly and previously owned the Guijar Palace restaurant near the Curry Mile. He missed a required police station appearance, saying he was too ill to travel, but was photographed campaigning for his newly won seat.

Greater Manchester Police warn that failure to meet the condition within six weeks could trigger an extradition request to Pakistan, potentially sparking a diplomatic row. The case adds to ongoing tensions over the handling of Pakistani-heritage grooming gangs, with Britain previously refusing to deport figures like Shabir Ahmed. Critics such as Nigel Farage have suggested visa bans to pressure Pakistan, while a Labour-sponsored review highlighted the over-representation of Pakistani-heritage men in such crimes and alleged official cover-ups.