Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pakistan: Girls

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding the protection of girls from minority communities following the ruling in the Maira Shahbaz case in March 2026.

Answer: The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief and the rights of women and girls in Pakistan. We regularly raise concerns about the protection of religious minorities, including forced marriage and conversion, with the Government of Pakistan at senior levels, and consistently encourage it to guarantee the rights of all people in line with its international human rights commitments. We also support efforts to address these issues through our development programming, including the Aawaz II programme, which works with communities to promote the rights of women and girls, support victims, and challenge harmful practices.

Secondary information