§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Pakistan in respect of the abuse of human rights in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [10358]
§ Mr. HanleyWe regularly raise our concerns about humans rights issues with the Government of Pakistan and will continue to do so.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been killed in Karachi and Sindh in Pakistan in the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [10360]
§ Mr. HanleyThe figures we have from the Pakistani authorities for people killed in the last two years are:
1994 1995 Sindh (including Karachi) 2,112 2,823 Karachi 919 1,847 We have consistently stressed the importance of respect for human rights and have urged all parties to refrain from violence and to negotiate a sustainable political settlement.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent arrest by the Pakistan security forces of the secretary-general of Human Rights International. [10361]
§ Mr. HanleyDr. Halepota, the secretary-general of Human Rights International, who is a dual British-Pakistani national, was detained by the Pakistani police on 28 November 1995. Under international law, we are not entitled to afford protection to a dual national in the country of his or her second nationality. However, on humanitarian grounds our high commission made informal representations to the Pakistani authorities. Dr. Halepota was deported to the UK on 5 January.