§ Mr. McNultyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. [46920]
§ Mr. FatchettAlthough the rights of religious minorities are protected by Pakistan's Constitution, there are reports of abuses against minorities by groups and individuals, and concerns about the implementation of the blasphemy laws.
Our High Commission in Islamabad led an EU demarche to the Pakistan authorities on 14 May about the situation of religious minorities. We made clear the EU' s concern about the death penalty imposed on Ayub Masih, a Christian, for blasphemy, and the negative effect such cases can have on inter-faith relations in Pakistan.