Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Pakistan authorities on the case of Asia Bibi.

I am concerned to hear about the case against Asia Bibi and about the decision to impose the death penalty. We regularly raise the issue of blasphemy laws, and their misuse against Muslims and religious minorities, at the highest levels in Pakistan. We have consistently pressed the government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and expressed our principled opposition to it in all cases and I will ensure that we continue to do both of these things.