0 months ago
Ex-Pakistani minister wins PoK election while on UK bail
Many years ago, a man named Rukhsar Ahmed was an important leader in Pakistan, running several government ministries.
Police in the United Kingdom later said they thought he had done very bad things to children in the early 1990s, when he was in his late 20s.
In July 2024, he was arrested at an airport in Manchester, UK, but the police let him go for now, with a promise to come back when asked — this is called bail.
Even though he was in trouble with the police, he still ran in an election in a part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan, and he won his seat again after five years away.
He belongs to a political group called PML-N, the same group as Pakistan's prime minister.
The police were not happy because he did not report to them last month as he was supposed to; one news report says he said he was too unwell to fly.
Now he has six weeks to answer the police in Manchester.
If he does not, police could arrest him or try to bring him back to the UK.
People disagree about him: some friends say he is a good man, while the police are investigating the bad things he is accused of.
Rukhsar Ahmed, 62, was arrested at Manchester Airport on 18 July 2024 on suspicion of rape and trafficking children in care, as part of a grooming gang investigation.
He was reportedly re-elected to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) legislative assembly last week after five years out of office, while on police bail.
Ahmed, affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, headed several ministries from 2006 until losing his seat in 2021.
He reportedly failed to report to Greater Manchester Police last month under his bail conditions; one report said he was 'too unwell to fly'.
The investigation covers allegations from several women of sexual abuse at care homes in the early 1990s, and Ahmed must answer police bail within six weeks or face a warrant or extradition.
- Who
- Rukhsar Ahmed, 62, a former Pakistani state minister and businessman affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- What
- Reportedly won re-election to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) legislative assembly last week while on UK police bail over child sexual abuse allegations.
- Where
- United Kingdom (Manchester, including the Rusholme area) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where he campaigned in Mirpur.
- When
- The report was published on Wednesday (London dateline 5 August); Ahmed was arrested on 18 July 2024 and was reportedly re-elected the previous week.
- Why
- An ongoing investigation into allegations from several women that Ahmed sexually abused and trafficked children at care homes in the early 1990s, when he was in his late 20s.
Supporters of Ahmed
Investigators and accusers
Ahmed's reputation
Supporters of Ahmed
Associates describe Ahmed as 'incredibly influential' in Manchester's Pakistani community, 'a man of the people' and 'one of the least corrupt people,' saying he visits Rusholme regularly.
Investigators and accusers
Greater Manchester Police are investigating allegations from several women that Ahmed raped and trafficked them when they were young girls and sexually abused children at care homes in the early 1990s.
Election campaign while on bail
Supporters of Ahmed
Ahmed campaigned at 'election gatherings' in Mirpur and was re-elected to the PoK assembly, ending five years out of office.
Investigators and accusers
Ahmed was on police bail and reportedly failed to report to Greater Manchester Police last month; he must answer bail within six weeks or risk a warrant or extradition.
Key facts
- Person
- Rukhsar Ahmed, 62, former Pakistani state minister and businessman
- Political affiliation
- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
- Arrest
- Manchester Airport, 18 July 2024
- Allegations
- Rape and trafficking children in care; at least two women allege abuse as young girls in the Rusholme area; several women allege abuse at care homes in the early 1990s
- Election
- Reportedly re-elected to the PoK legislative assembly last week after five years out of office
- Bail status
- Reportedly failed to report to Greater Manchester Police last month; one report says he was 'too unwell to fly'
- Campaigning
- Pictured at 'election gatherings' in PoK's Mirpur; shared Facebook images of a meeting with federal minister Amir Muqam
- Police response
- Greater Manchester Police declined to comment; failure to answer bail within six weeks could lead to a warrant or extradition
Quotes
The Guardian
UK newspaper reporting on the arrest
“Ahmed was arrested at Manchester airport on 18 July 2024 in relation to past child sexual abuse allegations linked to the Rusholme area of the city, where he lived for many years,”
easterneye.biz
“Detectives questioned Ahmed in July 2024 about allegations from at least two women who claimed that Ahmed was involved in raping and trafficking them when they were young girls.”
easterneye.biz
Ahmed’s associate in Rusholme
A close friend of Ahmed who described his character
“"He is incredibly influential in the Pakistani community of Manchester because of his political role".”
NDTV
“"He is a man of the people and one of the least corrupt people".”
NDTV
Sources
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