Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representation he has made to his Pakistani counterpart on the proposed execution of Mohammad Asghar on blasphemy charges in that country.

We continue to raise our concerns on this case at the highest levels with the Pakistani Authorities and will continue to do so. We remain in regular contact with Mr Asghar’s family in both the UK and Pakistan, and with his legal representatives on the approach we take. Although Mr Asghar currently faces the death penalty under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, he has appealed his sentence. We continue to urge that the Pakistani authorities give due consideration to his clearly documented history of mental illness. Given the recent shooting that resulted in Mr Asghar’s hospitalisation we continue to raise his safety and security in Pakistan as an issue of concern. The Pakistani Authorities are fully aware of the UK’s interest in Mr Asghar’s case.