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Written question asked by Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 July 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 July 2019. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 August 2019 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.


Pakistan: Christianity

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 July (HL18796), whether their objectives include seeking assurances about the measures being taken by the government of Pakistan to protect Christian minorities in that country.

Answer

Her Majesty's Government's objective is to support a stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan. We continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations related to religious minorities.

As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief I continue to raise the issue of protection of christian communities in Pakistan. I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Federal Human Rights Minister, Dr. Shireen Mazari, during a visit to Pakistan in February 2019. The former Foreign Secretary discussed the treatment of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi during his visit to the UK in June 2019.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL17202
Session
2017-19
Related items
Pakistan: Royal Visits
Monday, 15 July 2019
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Minority groups Pakistan Religious freedom Christianity
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk