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1663525

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support religious minorities in Pakistan.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	201379
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The UK regularly engages with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level to promote minority rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). We prioritise our aid to achieve maximum impact for the people of Pakistan in line with our strategic priorities, including promoting FoRB. Our Accountability, Inclusion and Reducing Modern Slavery programme (£39.5 million over the period 2018-2024) brings together community leaders and minority representatives to promote tolerance. Our Hate Speech and Disinformation programme (£4.2 million over the period 2022-2025) is working to protect marginalised communities from hate speech online. The UK's programme of support for education has helped thousands of children from religious minorities attend school and gain skills (£130 million over the period 2023-2027). Our bilateral ODA (Official Development Assistance) budget in FY 23/24 is £41.5 million. This is set to more than triple, to £133 million, next year.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty grouped question UIN 201381 question first answered 23/10/2023 15:45:20 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1663526

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the persecution of religious minorities in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	201380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The UK strongly condemns the violence faced by religious minorities in Pakistan. Protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), including for minority communities, remains a priority for the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary raised the persecution of religious communities with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Anwaral Haq Kakar on 25 September. On 21 August, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, wrote to Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, urging the Government to ensure the safety of the Christian community following recent attacks in Jaranwala. He has since written again to the Foreign Minister following the shocking desecration of Ahmadi Mosques and graves in Punjab and Sindh. Lord Ahmad also condemned attacks against religious minorities in his meetings with Foreign Minister Jilani on 13 September, and Pakistani High Commissioner Mohammed Faisal on 6 September.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 23/10/2023 15:20:14 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1659980

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to measure and evaluate (1) the effectiveness, and (2) the impact of projects that monitor the evacuation of religious minorities from areas affected by religious persecution in Pakistan.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10090
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/09/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government strongly condemns the violence faced by religious minorities in Pakistan. I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia] condemned recent attacks against religious minorities in my meetings with Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on 13 September, and Pakistani High Commissioner Mohammed Faisal on 6 September. UK aid in Pakistan continues to support projects promoting the rights of religious minorities. Our Aawaz II programme brings together community leaders and minority representatives to promote tolerance. The British High Commission recently attended the Aawaz Interfaith dialogue in Lahore, which convened key stakeholders from across Punjab following the attacks against Christians in Jaranwala. Our Hate Speech and Disinformation programme is working to protect marginalised communities from hate speech online.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 26/09/2023 15:24:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1658205

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect and promote freedom of religion and belief in Pakistan.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	197733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>Promoting the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. On 16 August, the Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, wrote to Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, urging the government to ensure the safety of Pakistan's Christian community following the attacks in Jaranwala. On 6 September Lord Ahmad publicly condemned the most recent attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque in Karachi. He has called for those responsible for attacks on religious minorities to be brought to justice. On 6 September Lord Ahmad condemned these attacks in his meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 11/09/2023 13:43:34 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1656276

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of rights for religious minorities in Pakistan.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	195887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>The UK strongly condemns violence against the Christian community in Pakistan. As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Fiona Bruce has said, the UK stands in solidarity with persecuted Christians in Pakistan, and around the world. Protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief including for minority communities, remains central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. On 16 August, the Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, wrote to Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, urging the government to ensure the safety of Pakistan's Christian community at this worrying time. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) he publicly called for those responsible to be brought to justice and reiterated the UKs commitment to freedom of religion and belief for all. On 6 September, Lord Ahmad raised the attacks against religious minorities in his meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty grouped question UIN 195888 question first answered 11/09/2023 12:26:14 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1585518

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of (1) Hindus, (2) Christians, and (3) other non-Muslim minorities, by the government of Pakistan; and whether they will make representations to that government concerning the enforcement of the law of blasphemy against those minorities.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
	uin	HL5537
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2023 answer text <p>Protecting minority communities continues to be central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. I [Lord Ahmad] discussed the need to safeguard the rights of religious minorities and raised the proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws during my meeting with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, on 30 January. I also discussed blasphemy laws and the importance of promoting respect for all religions during my meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on 14 December 2022.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/02/2023 14:30:40 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

1584382

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on steps being taken to help ensure that the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill introduced on 17 January 2023 in Pakistan will not be used to target minority Muslims and non-Muslims.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	140094
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>Protecting minority communities is a key part of the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia and Minister responsible for Human Rights, discussed the need to safeguard the rights of religious minorities during his meeting with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, and raised proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws. Lord Ahmad also discussed the importance of promoting respect for all religions during his meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on 14 December 2022</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 14/02/2023 17:41:05 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1580936

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding (1) the destruction of an Ahmadi Mosque in Gujranwala in Pakistan on 8 December 2022, and (2) the case of Maira Shahbaz who was abducted, raped and forcibly converted in 2020; whether they have reminded that government of its obligations under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and if so, what response they received.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2023 answer text <p>I raised the treatment of Ahmadi Muslims with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on 30 January. On 9 January, Minister of State for Development Andrew Mitchell also raised this issue with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On 14 October 2022, I raised forced conversions with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights. We are not prepared to discuss the detail of individual cases where to do so could put individuals and their families' lives at risk.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/02/2023 17:53:10 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1567841

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the government of Pakistan (1) to protect the Jewish community in that country, and (2) to support freedom of worship and belief.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
	uin	HL4818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>Protecting freedom of religion or belief for minority communities is central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. We regularly raise the treatment of minority communities at a senior level with the Government of Pakistan. On 30 January, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia and Minister responsible for Human Rights, discussed the need to protect religious minorities with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. Lord Ahmad also discussed the importance of promoting respect for all religions during his meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on 14 December 2022.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 31/01/2023 15:37:19 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

1543730

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2022
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Pakistan: Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what strategy they have, if any, for promoting freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan; and what discussions they have held with the government of Pakistan in pursuing any such strategy.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Guildford
	uin	HL3538
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2022 answer text <p>Pakistan is an FCDO human rights priority country and protecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia and Minister for Human Rights, last raised the human rights situation on 14 October, in his meeting with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. The UK has supported projects in Pakistan to promote greater tolerance and religious freedom. Our Aawaz II Programme works with communities to promote the rights of members of religious minorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/12/2022 16:17:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4933 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Guildford