Pakistani MP Rukhsar Ahmed Delays UK Return in Probe

Rukhsar Ahmed, a newly elected member of Pakistan’s parliament, has not provided a date for returning to the United Kingdom as police continue investigating historical allegations of child rape and trafficking. Officials said the inquiry remains active, but Ahmed has stayed in Pakistan after leaving the UK while on police bail.

Ahmed, 55, was arrested by Greater Manchester Police at Manchester Airport in July 2024. Officials said the arrest related to claims involving underage girls in the Rusholme area of Manchester during the 1990s. He was later released on police bail.

Arrest, bail, and a move to Pakistan After being released, Ahmed travelled to Pakistan and subsequently won a parliamentary seat for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party. Since then, officials said he did not attend a scheduled police appointment in the UK, citing medical reasons.

Ahmed has remained in Pakistan, and his continued absence has complicated the ongoing criminal inquiry, according to officials. Through legal counsel, he has publicly denied all allegations.

Next bail date may determine police options

Officials said the next procedural step now centres on Ahmed’s next scheduled bail date, which is expected within the next six weeks. If he does not appear when required, Greater Manchester Police have the authority to seek an arrest warrant.

Officials said police could also move toward formal extradition proceedings if necessary, depending on how the bail process develops. No timeline for any such steps was provided, and it was not clear whether any application would be made immediately after the next bail point.

Cross-border cases and political office

The case underscores difficulties that can arise when a criminal investigation spans jurisdictions, particularly in historical sexual abuse matters where alleged events date back decades. Officials said the allegations in this case concern the 1990s, and the inquiry remains tied to the suspect’s bail conditions and expected attendance in the UK.

Ahmed’s position as a political officeholder in another country adds an additional layer of complexity to enforcing bail expectations across borders, officials said. The investigation, however, remains framed as a police matter in the UK, with the next bail date set to be a key decision point.