Pakistan

House of Lords written question – answered at on 4 April 2011.

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Photo of Lord Lea of Crondall Lord Lea of Crondall Labour

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Pakistan regarding attacks on Christians in light of the fact that human rights are a core element of Department for International Development aid programmes.

Photo of Lord Howell of Guildford Lord Howell of Guildford Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (International Energy Policy)

My honourable friend the Minister for South Asia, Alistair Burt, raised religious freedoms, including the treatment of Christians in Pakistan with Pakistan's former Minister for Minorities Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti in January this year. My noble friend the right honourable Lady Warsi also raised these issues with the Speaker of the Pakistan Parliament on 17 January 2011. Following Mr Bhatti's murder, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister wrote to express his condolences to President Zardari. My honourable friend the Minister for South Asia, made a statement condemning his killing, alongside my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble friend the right honourable Lady Warsi.

The UK's aid programme makes an important contribution to supporting efforts to tackle discrimination in Pakistan, as part of our overall commitment to promoting human rights. The Department for International Development monitors events on the ground in Pakistan and works to ensure the Government can respond to a deteriorating human rights situation or specific events that may arise. We will continue to engage with the authorities in Pakistan on this issue.

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