Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan on ensuring the security and protection of (a) lawyers and judges in Pakistan who are involved in blasphemy cases and (b) (i) Asia Bibi's lawyer Saiful Malook and (ii) the three Supreme Court judges involved in Asia Bibi’s case.

In August, the Prime Minister raised with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan the importance of Pakistan delivering on its commitments to strengthen institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law. As the Prime Minister recognised in Parliament on 14 November, Imran Khan has publicly supported the Supreme Court and promised to uphold the rule of law, while providing continued protection for Asia Bibi.

The UK is helping improve the justice system in Pakistan. Our Rule of Law programme aims to strengthen the formal criminal justice system through more effective investigations and prosecutions of crime.