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<p>The shocking murder of a Christian priest, and wounding of another, last weekend
in Peshawar was a disturbing indication of the violence faced by minorities in Pakistan.
I (Lord Ahmad) and the British High Commissioner in Islamabad have publicly condemned
the attack, and British officials in Islamabad have also privately expressed their
condolences to Pakistan's Christian community.</p><p>The UK regularly raises our concerns
about freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and women and girls' rights at a senior
level with the Government of Pakistan. During my visit to Pakistan on 23 and 24 June
2021, I [Lord Ahmad] met Prime Minister Khan, as well as other senior government ministers,
and discussed our concerns. I met interfaith leaders to understand the situation of
Pakistani minorities, including the issue of forced conversion and marriage. Most
recently, I discussed the need to promote respect for all religions with Governor
of Punjab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, on 28 November 2021. In July the UK will host
an international Ministerial Conference to advance FoRB. Under the Government's Magna
Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, the UK has supported projects in Pakistan
to promote tolerance and religious freedom. The FCDO also funds programmes in Pakistan
that directly address early and forced marriages and gender-based violence.</p>
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