Pakistan ready to take back grooming gang convicts if UK extradites rebels too: Report

Islamabad has reportedly offered the United Kingdom a controversial deal: Pakistan would take back convicted British-Pakistani members of the Rochdale grooming gang if the UK sends back two well-known political dissidents living there.

The proposal was discussed during a closed-door meeting between Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, and Jane Marriott, the UK High Commissioner. While official statements cited “security cooperation” and efforts to counter “fake news,” insiders say the core of the talks revolved around a quid pro quo: Pakistan would facilitate travel documents for Pakistani-origin sex offenders whose British citizenship had been revoked, while requesting London hand over former federal minister Shehzad Akbar and UK-resident commentator and ex-army officer Adil Raja.

Pakistan has requested the UK to extradite Adil Raja and Shehzad Akbar.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi shared solid evidence with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, citing their involvement in anti-state activities.@MohsinnaqviC42 @JaneMarriottUK@ukinpakistan #UK pic.twitter.com/7PWAs250jn

— Zahid Khawaja🌎 (@khawajaNNInews) December 4, 2025

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For years, the UK has struggled to deport several members of the grooming gang convicted of sexual abuse and trafficking. Although their British citizenship was stripped in 2018, Pakistan had refused to accept them—many had renounced their Pakistani nationality, resulting in legal limbo.

If agreed, the deal would be a major about-face and a possible political boost for London.

In turn, Pakistan is demanding custody of Akbar and Raja, both vocal critics of the country’s military establishment. According to the Pakistani government, the pair are accused of spreading “anti-state propaganda” while residing in the UK. “Both individuals are wanted in Pakistan. They should be handed over to Pakistan immediately,” Naqvi reportedly told Marriott during the meeting.

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However, the proposed deal faces immediate legal obstacles. The UK lacks a standard extradition treaty with Pakistan, and British courts traditionally block extradition requests that appear politically motivated or where the individuals risk persecution.

The swap has drawn criticism as a blatant case of “transnational repression,” putting political dissidents on the same moral level as convicted child abusers.