Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with Pakistani Governmental authorities on the operation of free, fair and safe provincial elections in that country.

The UK has a close and longstanding relationship with Pakistan. We respect Pakistan's constitution and do not interfere in its domestic political affairs. In May, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, spoke to the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK, Moazzam Ahmad Khan and to Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, emphasising the importance of democratic norms and adherence to the rule of law.