PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Pakistani National Commission for Minorities: Ahmadiyya (20 July 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Government of Pakistan and the Supreme Court of Pakistan to help ensure that Ahmadi Muslims are represented within the National Commission for Minorities Rights while having the right to self-identify as Muslims.

Asked by:
Fleur Anderson (Labour)

We welcome the establishment of the National Commission for Minorities and would stress the importance of ensuring the new Commission is established in line with the UN Paris Principles as it begins its important work, specifically focusing on its independence, funding and membership. The UK Government remains deeply concerned by reports of discrimination and violence against Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan.

We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, in accordance with international standards. Most recently, the Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised our concerns about human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief and the National Commission for Minorities, with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 15 July. Our High Commissioner to Pakistan discussed the National Commission for Minorities with Dr Mazari in a meeting on 8 June.

Answered by:
Nigel Adams (Conservative)
28 July 2020