Declares that the Petitioners believe that the killing of 11 and injury of over 80 more civilians in Lahore at the Minhaj-ul-Quran Complex on 17 June 2014 was an act of terrorism carried out by the Government of Pakistan and federal Government of Punjab and further that a local Petition from residents of Nelson has received over 2000 signatures.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage the Government of Pakistan and federal Government of Punjab to bring the perpetrators of the violence to account and refer the incident to the International Criminal Court.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Andrew Stephenson, Official Report, 22 July 2014; Vol. 584, c. 1354.]
[P001382]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:
I thank the residents of Pendle for raising this case. I was concerned by the events on 17 June in Lahore and saddened by the loss of life and injuries reported. The former leader of the House of Commons made clear on 19 June the Government’s concern and urged restraint and calm by all. As the former leader of the House of Commons also stated in June, it is important that the full facts are understood and that Pakistan’s legal system is able fully to investigate this incident. It is therefore vital that the judicial inquiry launched in June is able to continue in its work and present its conclusions. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the human rights of all its citizens as laid down in the Constitution and in accordance with international standards.