Written question asked by Sam Tarry (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 March 2023. It was answered by Leo Docherty (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pakistan: Human Rights

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Pakistani Government on protecting (a) human rights, (b) a free press and (c) peaceful protests in that country.

Answer: The UK regularly engages the Government of Pakistan at a senior level on the need to respect human rights and uphold the rule of law. Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed the human rights situation with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on 30 January this year, and with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on 14 December 2022. The British High Commission in Islamabad continues to engage on human rights with the Government of Pakistan, including on freedom of expression and media freedom. On 17 November 2022 the British High Commissioner discussed the issue of media freedom with Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Secondary information