Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 25 January 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 February 2023. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 6 February 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding (1) the destruction of an Ahmadi Mosque in Gujranwala in Pakistan on 8 December 2022, and (2) the case of Maira Shahbaz who was abducted, raped and forcibly converted in 2020; whether they have reminded that government of its obligations under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and if so, what response they received.

Answer: I raised the treatment of Ahmadi Muslims with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on 30 January. On 9 January, Minister of State for Development Andrew Mitchell also raised this issue with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On 14 October 2022, I raised forced conversions with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights. We are not prepared to discuss the detail of individual cases where to do so could put individuals and their families' lives at risk.

Secondary information