Sex offender wanted by UK arrested

LAHORE: Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain was arrested during a joint operation between the Federal Investigation Agency, the Punjab Police and the UK’s National Crime Agency in Sangla City in Punjab on Saturday January26.

In 2016, Hussain was sentenced in the UK to 19 years imprisonment for serious sexual offences against a child.  Hussain was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of rape and one count of conspiracy to rape. This followed a long running Greater Manchester Police investigation – named Operation Doublet – which looked into the sexual exploitation of teenage girls in Rochdale.

Hussain fled to Pakistan during the trial, but was found guilty in absentia. The UK has been working closely with Pakistan’s authorities since 2017 to secure his arrest and extradition.

Hussain’s arrest is a further operational success for the UK-Pakistan justice and accountability partnership established during the British Home Secretary’s visit to Pakistan in September 2018. The partnership includes a renewed commitment to tackle the shared threats of organised crime and international criminality between our two countries.

“The arrest of this individual, who has been convicted of sexual offences by a British court, is a significant achievement, and another excellent example of UK-Pakistan cooperation in tackling international criminality and impunity,” said British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew CMG “It sends a clear message that Pakistan is not a safe haven for international criminals.” He thanked the Federal Investigation Agency and the Punjab Police for their professionalism and dedication in the execution of this operation.

Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain’s case will now go to courts, who will decide whether to approve his extradition to the UK.  In October 2018, Shahid Mohammad, an individual wanted in connection with the murder of five children and three adults, was successfully extradited to the UK.