Pakistan: Human Rights

(asked on 4th March 2019) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Pakistan about the case of Sadaf Khan, in particular about ensuring that (1) the due process of law is followed, (2) her forced conversion and marriage is declared null and void, and (3) she is returned to her family.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 18th March 2019

We are not aware of a report of the kidnapping of Sadaf Khan on 6 February 2018; however, we are aware of a report of the kidnapping and forced conversion of Sadaf Amir on 6 February 2019.

The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the forced marriage and forced conversion of Hindu and Christian women and girls in Pakistan. We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including religious minorities, women and children, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. Most recently, during my visit to Pakistan on 18 and 19 February, I met faith leaders to discuss issues faced by religious minorities, including the issue of forced marriage. I also raised our concerns about the treatment of minority communities with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, during the same visit.

Pakistan remains a priority for UK development assistance, with programmes designed to improve human rights and opportunities for women. The Department for International Development's "Aawaz" Voice and Accountability programme in Pakistan works to empower female youth leaders from Punjab (where Bahawalpur district is located) to challenge discriminatory social norms in their communities. Our Rule of Law programme in Pakistan aims to strengthen and help to build public confidence in the formal criminal justice system through more effective investigations and prosecutions of crime. Part of the programme focuses specifically on improving access to justice for women and girls.

We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations to vulnerable groups, including religious minorities and women and girls, and to uphold the rule of law.

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