Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and The UN)
Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
King Charles Street London
SW1A 2AH
Tel: 0207 008 5000
Our ref: MC2023/02264 26 February 2023
Dear David,
Thank you for your correspondence of 2 February on behalf of (X) about proposed changes to blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
The UK Government remains deeply concerned by the use of blasphemy laws to undermine human rights in Pakistan.
The misuse of blasphemy laws to target minority communities is particularly troubling. We continue to raise this issue at a senior level with the Government of Pakistan.
On 30 January, I raised proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws with Pakistan’s Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, and discussed the need to safeguard the rights of religious minorities.
I also raised blasphemy laws and the importance of promoting respect for all religions during my meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on 14 December 2022.
Yours sincerely,
LORD (TARIQ) AHMAD OF WIMBLEDON
Minister of State
Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
