Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State for South and Central Asia, North Africa, UN and the Commonwealth
Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
King Charles Street London
SW1A 2AH
29 July 2022
The Lord Alton of Liverpool House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
Dear David,
Thank you for your correspondence of 7 July, on behalf of the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement UK, about Pakistan.
It raises concerns about Ashfaq Masih, who has been convicted of blasphemy and has received the death penalty. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials are aware of this deeply troubling case.
We regularly raise our concerns about Freedom of Religion and Belief, including the misuse of blasphemy laws, at a senior level with the Government of Pakistan. In June last year, during a visit to Pakistan, I met the then Prime Minister Imran Khan, as well as ministers including the then Foreign Minister Qureshi and the then Human Rights Minister Mazari.
I highlighted the need to address the persecution of minorities and promote respect for all religions. I also discussed concerns about blasphemy laws with the Governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar.
I met interfaith leaders to understand the situation of Pakistani minorities. Most recently, the British High Commissioner in Islamabad raised the misuse of the blasphemy laws in his June meeting with Pakistan’s new Human Rights Minister, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada.
It is our longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The UK has raised at the highest level with the Government of Pakistan its concerns about specific cases and continues to urge Pakistan to ensure due process and adherence to international obligations.
Yours sincerely,
LORD (TARIQ) AHMAD OF WIMBLEDON
Minister of State for South and Central Asia, North Africa, UN and the Commonwealth Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
