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 (a) Government of Pakistan and (b) Supreme Court of Pakistan to help ensure that Ahmadi Muslims are represented within the Commission for Minorities Rights while having the right to self-identify as Muslims.

The UK Government remains deeply concerned by reports of discrimination and violence against Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, as laid down in the constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.

On 5 June, the Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, wrote to Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, about the National Commission on Minorities in Pakistan. He welcomed its establishment and highlighted the importance of ensuring the new Commission is established in line with the UN Paris Principles as it begins its important work, specifically focusing on its independence, funding and membership. Our High Commissioner to Pakistan raised these issues about the National Commission on Minorities with Dr Mazari in a meeting on 8 June.