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<p>The murder of a Christian priest, and wounding of another, in late January in Peshawar
was an indication of the violence faced by Pakistan's minorities - as was the killing
in Sialkot of a Christian Sri Lankan national last December. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of
Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia, and the British High Commissioner have
both publicly condemned these attacks, and the High Commissioner has raised with senior
Pakistani Government officials. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Shia Muslims, Christians,
Hindus, and Sikhs continue to suffer violence and discrimination, including from targeted
killings, and damage to their places of worship. The UK has made clear to the Government
of Pakistan that freedom of religion of belief remains a priority.</p><p>The UK welcomed
the establishment of Pakistan's National Commission for Minorities in 2020, after
the Pakistani Supreme Court mandated that the federal government form a national council
for minorities. However we remain concerned that the National Commission for Minorities
does not adhere to the UN Paris Principles, specifically on lack of autonomy, resources
and investigative powers. We are pressing for passage of a bill to strengthen the
minorities' commission so to better align it with the Paris Principles.</p>
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