Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the 2 February 2021 arrest of Professor Muhammad Ismail, the General Secretary of the NGO Forum of Pakistan.

We are concerned about reports of Professor Muhammad Ismail's arrest. We consistently urge the Pakistani authorities to investigate any such allegations thoroughly and transparently. The UK recognises that Human Rights Defenders play an essential role in promoting and protecting democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. We support the rights of Human Rights Defenders to carry out their work safely and without fear.

Pakistan remains a FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. We regularly raise at a senior level our concerns about the human rights situation with the Government of Pakistan. Most recently, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed our human rights concerns with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 20 February. The UK will continue to urge the government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in Pakistan, as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.