Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Monday, 29 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 April 2010. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the High Commission in Pakistan has taken to obtain consular access to Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Our high commission in Islamabad has continued to make representations to the national and provincial authorities in Pakistan with regard to gaining consular access to Mr. Sheikh. The most recent diplomatic notes requesting access were submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2009 and April 2010. High level requests for consular access to Mr. Sheikh have also been made by my hon. Friend the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister with responsibility for consular matters (Gillian Merron) during a visit to Pakistan in February 2009 and, along with other cases, by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in a letter to Pakistani Foreign Minster Qureshi on 7 December 2009 which was delivered by our high commissioner. To date we have not received consular access to Mr Sheikh.

Secondary information