A former Pakistani state minister was arrested two years ago on suspicion of raping vulnerable young girls in Manchester in the 1990s, the Guardian can reveal. It is understood that Ahmed, 62, was expected to answer bail at a police station in Manchester last month, but failed to attend because he was “too unwell to fly”. It is understood that detectives learned about Ahmed’s involvement in Pakistani politics when he was in custody for questioning. Shabir Ahmed, 73, was released from jail in July after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences. He is known to have visited a popular Pakistani restaurant on Stockport Road in Longsight, near Rusholme, on numerous occasions.