Two of the ringleaders of the Rochdale grooming scandal may finally be deported back to Pakistan a decade after a judge first authorised their departure.
Until now the South Asian state has refused to accept Qari Abdul Rauf, 55, and Adil Khan, 54, after the pair renounced their Pakistani citizenship.
That left the Home Office unable to deport the duo since to do so would have left them ‘stateless’ – a move which is illegal under international law.
But Pakistan’s position looks set to potentially change now that ministers have given the green light for direct flights to once again resume between the two countries.
The country’s national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was barred from operating inside the EU and UK in 2020.
The ban followed an incident on May 22 that year in which a domestic passenger flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed while on approach to Jinnah International Airport, killing 97 out of the 99 people on board as well as an additional person on the ground.
Rauf and Khan were both dual British-Pakistani citizens until the pair were convicted of a catalogue of child sex offences in 2012.
The Home Office called for their British citizenship to be revoked after they were convicted of grooming and raping young women.
Aziz ferried victims from Rochdale to sex parties as far away as Leeds and Bradford.
Politicians and members of the Pakistani government have been in engaged in ‘high-level talks’ to allow Qari Abdul Rauf, pictured, and Adil Khan to be deported
Adil Khan got a girl pregnant but denied he was the father, then met another girl and trafficked her to others
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane sits on the runway in 2023. The carrier has been banned from flying direct to the UK following safety concerns after a crash in 2020
However, the pair renounced their Pakistani citizenship days before an appeal was due to be heard on the Home Office decision, making it is legally complex to send them to back to Pakistan.
But officials in Islamabad last month told The Times that Pakistan may finally agree to take the two men once direct flights are resumed.
The British High Commission in Pakistan confirmed yesterday that PIA is once again legally allowed to fly no-stop routes into the UK.
A spokesperson said: ‘After a sustained, independent, and technically driven process, the UK’s Air Safety Committee has lifted its restrictions on Pakistani carriers.
‘It will take time for flights to resume, but this is an important step, and a testament to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s air safety improvements.
‘Individual airline carriers will still need to apply for permits to operate to the UK through the UK Civil Aviation Authority.’
Jane Marriott, the UK high commissioner to Pakistan, added: ‘I’m grateful to aviation experts in the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to drive improvements to meet international safety standards.
‘While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends.’
Rauf’s neighbours in Rochdale (pictured) are disgusted that he is still allowed to live in the same town where he carried out his vile crime
This dropping of the ban will be welcome news to the 1.6million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK.
David Lammy is currently leading discussions with Pakistan on their return, and both the Foreign Secretary and Home Office ministers are reported to be ‘working very hard’ to strike an agreement.
Faith minister Lord Khan, who has strong connections to Pakistan, is also said to be involved in talks.
Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale, said: ‘This is very welcome news. I know that this decision will have been taken solely on the basis of the safety improvements made by the airline and is not linked to deportations.
‘But it indicates exactly the kind of close working relationship we need between the UK and Pakistan to pave the way for the return of Pakistani nationals deported from the UK – including the men convicted for being Rochdale grooming gang members.’
Earlier this year, MailOnline revealed that Rauf was working in Rochdale as a delivery driver, prompting fears he might meet one of his victims during the course of his work.
His neighbours in Rochdale were disgusted that he is still allowed to live in the same town where he carried out his vile crimes.
One mother, who lives just a few doors away, said: ‘Nobody can believe that monster is still here, after what he did to those young girls.
‘It’s disgusting. What is the country coming to? Why is he still here?’
