Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the of the implications for his policies of the political situation in Pakistan.

The UK has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. We continue to monitor the political situation closely. On 25 September, the Foreign Secretary discussed the need to uphold democratic principles with Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, spoke with caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Jilani on 12 September, to emphasise the importance of peaceful democratic processes and human rights. In a letter to caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 21 August, Lord Ahmad emphasised the need for Pakistan's citizens to be able to exercise their democratic rights and participate in peaceful, inclusive, credible elections.