§ 2.39p.m.
Barones EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to the Government of Pakistan over the future of Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, as was stated by my honourable friend the joint Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in another place on 22nd March, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the matter with the Pakistan Foreign Affairs adviser in London on 20th March.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. In view of the fact that two American Presidents have been assassinated, as well as the President of Afghanistan and the late Prime Minister of Italy, Aldo Moro, would it not now be conducive to a good opinion being held of Pakistan if it was to show clemency in this particular case? Although I understand that Mr. Bhutto has stood trial and been convicted, I think it would be useful if we could support the pressure of public opinion.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am sure that everybody will share the noble Baroness's profound concern about recent, and not so recent, 4 acts of public assassination. When my right honourable friend discussed with the Pakistan adviser on foreign affairs the death sentence imposed on Mr. Bhutto, he pointed out that while trial and sentence was a matter which fell within Pakistan's own jurisdiction, there would, however, be many people in Britain whose concern could affect our relations with Pakistan. Beyond that, my right honourable friend of course could not go without running the risk of interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign State. The noble Baroness can be assured that our proper concern has been conveyed in appropriate terms to the Pakistan Government.