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Written question asked by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative) on Friday, 6 February 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 February 2026. It was answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.


Pakistan: Detainees

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of abductions, custodial tortureĀ and enforced disappearances of civilians, including political workers and journalists, in Pakistan, particularly those held in military custody; and what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about its obligations under international human rights law and the Convention Against Torture.

Answer

I thank the Noble Lord for his series of related questions submitted from 6-11 February.

As I said in responding to Baroness Alexander of Clevenden in the House of Lords on 25 February, the UK Government consistently urges the Pakistani authorities to act in line with their international obligations and respect fundamental freedoms and human rights. The former Foreign Secretary raised these issues on his visit last May.

We will continue to urge our Pakistani counterparts to protect the rights of all people in Pakistan, including protesters and detainees, in accordance with its constitution and international standards.

We continuously examine all levers at our disposal to deliver for UK interests. Pakistan is an indispensable partner in keeping the UK safe from irregular migration, terror threats and organised crime, and some of the technical assistance we provide through UK ODA is integral to these efforts.

In relation to Imran Khan and his family members, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 4 December 2025 in response to Question HL12453.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL14382
Session
2024-26
Related items
Imran Khan
Thursday, 4 December 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Detainees Human rights Missing persons Pakistan Torture UN Convention against Torture
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk