Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in Pakistan.

Pakistan remains an FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. The UK Government remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Pakistan, including restrictions on the freedom of expression and reports of discrimination and violence against religious minorities. The UK also remains committed to our longstanding opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We regularly raise human rights as a concern in our dialogue with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. Most recently, I raised our concerns about human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities, with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 16 November. 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.