§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the Government of Pakistan concerning the well-being of former ministers currently held in custody, pending trial. [102864]
§ Mr. HainFrom the outset we have urged Pakistan's military authorities to respect the safety and legal rights of those detained. We have also urged that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his co-defendants be given a free, fair and transparent trial before a civilian court. Our High Commissioner in Islamabad reiterated those points318W when he saw General Musharraf on 15 November. I also underlined our concern to Sharifuddin Pirzada, a member of Pakistan's National Security Council, on 8 December.