Rukhsar Ahmed Wins PoK Legislative Seat Amid UK Grooming Allegations

Former Pakistani state minister Rukhsar Ahmed, 62, was arrested at Manchester Airport in July 2024 on suspicion of historic rape and child‑trafficking offences linked to the 1990s. He remains on police bail in the United Kingdom after a judge rejected a request to restrict his travel. Ahmed missed a scheduled bail appointment, claiming illness, but social‑media footage later showed him campaigning in Mirpur, Pakistan‑administered Kashmir.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Ahmed was elected this week to the legislative assembly of Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir on a Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz (PML‑N) ticket. The case could spark diplomatic friction, as Greater Manchester Police may seek an arrest warrant or extradition if Ahmed fails to comply with bail conditions.