The UK Government remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief. We regularly raise concerns about the protection and persecution of minority communities, including Ahmadiyya Muslims, the blasphemy laws and the protection of freedom of religion or belief to the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance we attach to religious tolerance and safeguarding the rights of all Pakistan's citizens during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The former Minister for Asia and the Pacific, my hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma), discussed the protection of religious minorities with Kamran Michael, former Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during a visit to Pakistan in January 2017.<\/p>
We continue to urge Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations, including engaging with the UN and other international bodies, and to ensure that the rights of minorities are respected.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-27T16:08:39.227Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Religious Freedom"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last raised with the government of Pakistan (1) the anti-Ahmadiyya laws set out in Penal Code Article 298, and (2) that government's obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief; and whether they intend to encourage the government of Pakistan to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to make a country visit to Pakistan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL1569"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760014", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760014/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are aware of the case of Taimoor Raza, a Pakistani national who was sentenced to death on 10 June 2017 after allegedly making blasphemous remarks on social media. We understand Mr Raza has submitted an appeal to the High Court.<\/p>
The UK remains firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. While we have not raised Mr Raza's case directly with the Pakistan authorities, we have repeatedly called upon the Government of Pakistan to end capital punishment and, at a minimum, commit to publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on the death penalty. We regularly raise our concerns about freedom of expression and the misuse of the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani Government at a senior level.<\/p>
The Foreign Secretary raised misuse of the blasphemy laws during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The former Minister for Asia and the Pacific, my hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma), discussed the death penalty and the importance we attach to freedom of expression with Kamran Michael, former Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during a visit to Pakistan in January 2017. The Government will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to the death penalty and freedom of expression and religion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-25T14:38:37.193Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Taimoor Raza"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the case of Taimoor Raza who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for allegedly breaking the blasphemy laws on social media; and what representations, if any, they have made on his behalf.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL1570"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760015", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760015/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
DFID\u2019s education programmes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces continue to support provincial governments in the ongoing process to update and revise textbooks. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab lower secondary textbooks are now the focus. Through the Ilm Two programme DFID is directly supporting the production of additional reading materials that specifically focus on religious tolerance and inclusion. DFID is also engaged with Federal Government consultations on a new draft National Curriculum which is in its early stages. The Federal Government has also agreed minimum standards for educational quality which were adopted by provinces this year. These standards set the quality criteria for learners, curriculum, textbooks,<\/strong> teachers and assessment and form the basis for the current textbook reform.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-21T12:01:46.573Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Schools"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the meeting of Lord Alton of Liverpool and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne with the Minister of State at the Department for International Development, Rory Stewart MP, about the role of school textbooks and the school curriculum in Pakistan in describing non-Muslims, what progress has been made in promoting inclusive educational approaches in that country.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL1571"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760016", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760016/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Action Plan for Human Rights, published by the Pakistan Ministry of Human Rights in 2016, contains proposals for a range of measures to improve human rights in Pakistan, including a National Commission for Minorities and security arrangements for protection of places of worship of minorities. We have encouraged implementation of the Action Plan.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-21T15:02:27.857Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Minority Groups"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about proposals in Pakistan to establish (1) a National Council for Minorities\u2019 Rights, and (2) a dedicated police unit to protect religious minorities; and whether they have encouraged such developments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL1572"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760017", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760017/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Human Rights in Pakistan is currently reviewing the Christian Marriage Act 1872 and Christian Divorce Act 1862. We have discussed the review with the then Minister for Human Rights, Kamran Michael, and regularly raise minority and women's rights with the Government of Pakistan.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-21T14:57:31.597Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Marriage"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have encouraged the government of Pakistan to enact laws recognising the legality of Christian marriages.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL1573"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760018", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760018/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The DFID Annual Report includes the following figures for aid spend in Pakistan for the last five years;<\/p> <\/p> 2012-13 £203.1 Million<\/p> 2013-14 £253 M<\/p> 2014-15 £249 M<\/p> 2015-16 £336.2 M<\/p> 2016-17 £422.1M<\/p> <\/p> £39.5 million has been committed to the Voice and Accountability programme (AAWAZ) which aims to ensure that democratic processes are more open, inclusive and accountable to citizens in Pakistan. It focuses on three areas:<\/p> <\/p> 1- Women\u2019s and minority rights, their political participation and decision making;<\/p> 2- Tolerance and prevention of violence (inter-faith, sectarian and gender-based)<\/p> 3- Increasing the accountability and responsiveness of the state to citizens\u2019 demands for improved service delivery (particularly on health and education).<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-21T12:02:54.697Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Overseas Aid"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how much overseas aid they have given to Pakistan in each of the past five years; and of that, how much has specifically been committed to the promotion of (1) the protection of minorities, and (2) freedom of religion or belief.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL1574"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760019", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760019/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Not all community transport operators are required to hold a PSV operator\u2019s licence. This only applies to operators who do not fit into one of the relevant exemptions to EU Regulation 1071/2009, which has applied in the UK since 2011.<\/p> <\/p> We will consult on the issue and use of section 19 and section 22 permits later this year. The consultation will be accompanied by an Impact Assessment focussing on the potential effects for operators who use permits.<\/p> We are working with community transport and local authority organisations to understand better the potential impacts.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4336", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Callanan"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Callanan"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-20T13:03:13.623Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Community Transport: Licensing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken an impact assessment of the effect on individuals and communities unable to access conventional bus services of their proposals to require community transport operators to hold a conventional PCV operator's licence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2483", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bradshaw"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Bradshaw"}
], "uin" : "HL1575"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760020", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760020/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK levies corporation tax on companies based on the profits generated by their economic activity undertaken in the UK.<\/p> <\/p> The Government has announced a number of recent changes to reinforce that principle, including a restriction to the deductibility of corporate interest expense, which is due to increase receipts by around £1bn per annum.<\/p> <\/p> The Government also continues to consider, at both a domestic and international level, whether the existing tax rules deliver that principle for new digital business models. For instance, the UK actively supports the OECD\u2019s Task Force on the Digital Economy, which has been mandated to explore these issues.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-25T09:59:44.343Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Amazon: Taxation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions of the report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research Bookselling Britain that bookshops pay 11 times more tax than Amazon, and whether they have plans to address this.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/567", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hain"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hain"}
], "uin" : "HL1576"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760021", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760021/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In 2016, there were 2,005 retail units specialised in selling books in the UK, compared to 2,055 in 2010 (ONS business counts).<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/127", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Prior of Brampton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-04T11:40:02.857Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bookshops: Closures"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many bookshops have closed in the UK since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/567", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hain"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hain"}
], "uin" : "HL1577"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760022", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760022/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As the Chief Secretary to the Treasury set out in the Written Ministerial Statement laid on 12th<\/sup> September, pay awards for 2017/18 for police and prison officers will be funded within existing budgets.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-20T10:38:25.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Police and Prison Officers: Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether pay increases during this financial year for police and prison officers will be paid for from existing budgets.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hoyle"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hoyle"}
], "uin" : "HL1578"}
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