Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL8468):
Question:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan concerning its record on (1) freedom of expression, and (2) freedom of religion or belief. (HL8468)
Tabled on: 14 June 2023
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
Protecting both freedom of expression and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) remains central to the UK Government’s human rights engagement in Pakistan. I (Lord [Tariq] Ahmad, Minister for South Asia) raised the importance of maintaining democratic norms, including the right to protest with Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, on 10 and 13 May. I also raised the need to safeguard the rights of religious groups with Pakistan’s Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, on 27 June. Where there are allegations of human rights violations, we expect these to be fully investigated in line with international human rights law.
Date and time of answer: 29 Jun 2023 at 15:42.
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Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL8467):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding the case of Noman Masih who has been sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. (HL8467)
Tabled on: 14 June 2023
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
It is our longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We have not raised this specific case with the Government of Pakistan. We continue to urge Pakistan to ensure due process and adherence to international human rights obligations. We press for speedy and fair trials for those accused and urge the Pakistani authorities to ensure the safety of those released.
Date and time of answer: 29 Jun 2023 at 15:42.
