Written question asked by Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 March 2025. It was answered by Hamish Falconer (Labour) on Monday, 10 March 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pakistan: Ahmadiyya

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Pakistani counterpart on the arrest of Ahmadi Muslims in Daska, Pakistan, for gathering in their local mosque on 28 February 2025.

Answer: Promoting the rights of religious minorities is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised the deteriorating situation for the Ahmadi community when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. On 3 March, our High Commissioner in Islamabad raised the issue of Ahmadi rights in a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif. It would not be appropriate to discuss the detail of individual cases where to do so could put individuals and their families at risk.

Secondary information