UK raises possibility of visa sanctions in Pakistan deportation dispute as Islamabad revises entry rules for British passport holders

The United Kingdom has indicated it is prepared to consider visa sanctions against Pakistan if Islamabad continues to refuse the return of certain convicted foreign offenders, while Pakistan has separately announced new entry requirements for British passport holders of Pakistani origin that will take effect later this week.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Labour government was prepared to consider "all possible levers" to ensure that immigration rules are enforced when asked whether Britain could impose visa restrictions on Pakistan over its refusal to accept the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the convicted ringleader of the Rochdale child grooming gang.

Appearing before the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Cooper pointed to previous instances where Britain had used visa-related measures in negotiations with countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Angola to secure the return of foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.

"We believe that all possible levers should be looked at in order to ensure that the immigration system has credibility and that the rules can be enforced," Cooper said. Referring to Ahmed, she added: "This individual should not be in the United Kingdom. He should be deported. He has no right to be in the United Kingdom."

Her remarks came a day after UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to amend the Immigration Act 1971 by removing protections that currently prevent the deportation of certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in Britain before 1973. Under the proposed changes, individuals convicted of serious offences, including child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, war crimes or offences linked to national security, could become eligible for deportation.

Ahmed, 73, was released from prison earlier this month after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences. Although his British citizenship has been revoked, UK authorities have been unable to deport him because Pakistan maintains that he is no longer a Pakistani national, arguing that he renounced his citizenship decades ago. British authorities dispute that claim, saying there is evidence he did not complete the formal renunciation process.

According to British media reports, Pakistan has also declined to accept two other former Rochdale grooming gang members whose British citizenship was revoked after their convictions, maintaining that they are no longer Pakistani citizens.

Britain and Pakistan have a returns agreement under which Pakistan previously accepted the deportation of two convicted members of the Rochdale grooming gang in 2013 and 2017 after recognising them as Pakistani nationals.

The latest disagreement comes despite continued engagement between the two countries on migration and security cooperation. During discussions in Islamabad last month, Pakistan and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on counterterrorism, tackling illegal migration and improving immigration management.

In a separate development, Pakistan has revised its entry requirements for British passport holders who are eligible for Pakistani nationality.

Effective July 17, 2026, British citizens travelling to Pakistan will no longer be permitted to enter the country solely on the basis of a valid National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). Instead, travellers using a British passport must also carry either a valid Pakistani passport or a valid Pakistani visa.

Under the revised policy, airlines have been instructed to verify that passengers travelling on British passports possess the required travel documents before boarding. British passport holders carrying only a valid NICOP, without either a Pakistani passport or a Pakistani visa, may be denied boarding and refused entry into Pakistan.

The new requirements are expected to affect British-Pakistanis who have traditionally travelled using a British passport together with a NICOP instead of maintaining a valid Pakistani passport. The policy change is separate from the ongoing discussions between Islamabad and London over deportations and immigration cooperation.