Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the case of Asia Bibi and the death sentence she has received in Pakistan for an alleged offence of blasphemy; what representations he has made to the government of Pakistan about that country's blasphemy laws; and whether he has received any representations on the possibility of excluding Pakistan from the Commonwealth on human rights grounds.

I am concerned to hear about the case of Asia Bibi and reports that a court has upheld the imposition of the death penalty. We regularly raise at the highest levels the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan both against Muslims and against religious minorities. We have consistently pressed the government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and our principled opposition to it in all cases and I will ensure that we continue to do both of these things. The FCO has not received any representations on the possibility of excluding Pakistan from the Commonwealth on human rights grounds. However, we consistently strive to foster debate on the death penalty to achieve a change in attitude on this issue within the Commonwealth.