Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the Government of Pakistan in tackling cases of enforced disappearances in that country.

​We are concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression, including the detention of human rights defenders, journalists and others, in Pakistan. The freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy. We are also concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs.

We regularly raise at a senior level our concerns about the human rights situation with the Government of Pakistan, including on the freedom of expression and of belief. The Prime Minister spoke to the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on 17 August 2018 and highlighted the importance of Pakistan delivering on its commitments to strengthen institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law, and to advance the rights of minorities. My colleague, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed human rights in Pakistan with the Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, in September 2018. I raised these concerns with the government during my visit to Pakistan in November 2017. The British Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour in full its human rights obligations.