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Home Secretary pushes 1971 Act amendment to deport Shabir Ahmed

7/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will propose amending the 1971 Immigration Act to deport Shabir Ahmed.
Ahmed, 73, was released on licence last week after a 22-year sentence for child sexual offences.
The 1971 Immigration Act blocks removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973 and have lived in the UK five years.
No deportation agreement with Pakistan exists, so Ahmed cannot be removed even if the law changes.

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Story summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will propose amending the 1971 Immigration Act to deport Shabir Ahmed.
Ahmed, 73, was released on licence last week after a 22-year sentence for child sexual offences.
The 1971 Immigration Act blocks removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973 and have lived in the UK five years.
No deportation agreement with Pakistan exists, so Ahmed cannot be removed even if the law changes.