Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed, a 55-year-old man facing historic rape and trafficking allegations in Manchester, has avoided returning to the UK after being elected to office in Pakistan. While on bail for crimes allegedly committed in the 1990s, Ahmed traveled to Pakistan and secured a seat in the ruling party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The 1990s Rusholme care home allegations
The criminal investigation into Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed is rooted in allegations of historic sexual abuse occurring in Manchester's Rusholme area during the 1990s. According to the report by The Mail on Sunday, the 55-year-old is suspected of raping and trafficking at least two underage girls from local care homes during that period. this case is part of a wider inquiry into the systemic abuse of children in Manchester's care facilities during the early 1990s, a time when Ahmed was in his late 20s and living in the city.
Greater Manchester Police arrested the suspect at Manchester Airport in July 2024. The investigation seeks to address decades-old claims that have resurfaced as part of a broader effort to uncover historic misconduct within the city's social care systems.
A sudden political rise in Kharri Sharif
Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed transitioned from a UK bail suspect to a Pakistani Member of Parliament in a matter of weeks. After his arrest in July 2024, Ahmed was released on bail but subsequently fled to Pakistan, missing a scheduled poilce appointment by claiming he was too unwell to travel. Shortly after his departure, he was elected to office representing the ruling party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
As The Mail on Sunday reported, a reporter located Ahmed in the village of Kharri Sharif, Mirpur,where he appeared healthy and was actively meeting with a steady stream of guests and officials. This sudden political ascent occurred despite the ongoing criminal suspicions that led to his initial arrest in the United Kingdom.
Ahmed's "propaganda" defense in Mirpur
Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed has used his new political platform to deny all wrongdoing, characterizing the UK investigation as a targeted smear campaign. During his recent activities in Mirpur, Ahmed dismissed the rape and trafficking allegations as "propaganda" orchstrated by British Indians to undermine his election campaign. He also released a statement via Facebook, categorically denying all allegations and stating he would address the matters through appropriate forums.
When directly confronted by reporters regarding the specific claims of abusing underage girls, Ahmed refused to provide a direct answer. He stated that his legal teams in both London and Manchester were handling the matter and insisted that he would not discuss the details further to avoid things going "wrong."
The six-week deadline and the extradition hurdle
The legal status of Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed remains in a state of international limbo. While he is expected to answer his bail within the next six weeks, several critical questions remain unanswered by the current reporting. It is unclear how the Pakistani government will respond to an elected official facing such serious criminal allegations in the United Kingdom, or if his new parliamentary status will provide a shield against extradition.
Furthermore, while Ahmed claims the allegations are "propaganda," the source does not provide a statement from the alleged victims or their representatives to address his denials. Finally, it remains to be seen whether Greater Manchester Police will pursue an arrest warrant if the six-week deadline passes without his return to the UK.
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