Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to encourage the repeal of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

We regularly raise the blasphemy laws and their misuse against those of all faiths at the highest levels in Pakistan. During the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif in April, the Prime Minister, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised our concerns as well as the need for reforms. We will continue to press the Pakistani government to make progress in this area.