Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pakistan

Tuesday 12 December 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Edward Leigh asked about the case of Maira Shahbaz, a victim of abduction, forced marriage, and rape in Pakistan.
  • The response stated that the UK continues to press individual cases with the Pakistani Government and raises human rights issues, including persecution of minorities, with senior officials.
  • Jim Shannon questioned the measures being taken to change attitudes and laws regarding the kidnapping and abuse of young girls in Pakistan.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities
Context

Maira Shahbaz, at the age of 14, was abducted, forced into a marriage, and raped. She has been living in fear with her family ever since.

Question

At 14, Maira Shahbaz was abducted, forced into marriage, and raped. Now 18, she is still trapped in one room, terrified. Despite multiple meetings with Home Secretaries and written letters, no action has been taken to rescue this girl. With 100,000 young men crossing the channel for better jobs, why can't we show compassion? What more can the Foreign Office do to stop forced conversions and marriages in Pakistan?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We continue to press individual cases with the Pakistani Government. The former Foreign Secretary raised human rights, including persecution of minorities, with caretaker Prime Minister Kakar on 25 September. Lord Ahmad also raised the need to protect minority communities with caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 7 September and in a letter on 5 October.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about what more can be done was not directly answered, only mentions of previous discussions were provided without new actions or commitments.

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Q2 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities
Context

Maira Shahbaz, at the age of 14, was abducted, forced into a marriage, and raped. She has been living in fear with her family ever since.

Question

At 14, Maira Shahbaz was abducted, forced into marriage, and raped. Now 18, she is still trapped in one room, terrified. Despite multiple meetings with Home Secretaries and written letters, no action has been taken to rescue this girl. With 100,000 young men crossing the channel for better jobs, why can't we show compassion? What more can the Foreign Office do to stop forced conversions and marriages in Pakistan?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We continue to press these individual cases with the Pakistani Government. The former Foreign Secretary raised human rights, including persecution of minorities, with caretaker Prime Minister Kakar on 25 September. Lord Ahmad also raised the need to protect minority communities with caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani on 13 September and again in a letter on 5 October.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about what more can be done was not directly answered, only mentions of previous discussions were provided without new actions or commitments.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Women & Equalities Religion & Faith
Context

There is an epidemic of the kidnapping and abuse of young Christian, Hindu, and Sikh girls in Pakistan.

Question

This case extends beyond Maira Shahbaz to many other young Christian, Hindu, and Sikh girls being kidnapped from a very early age. There is widespread evidence of kidnapping and abuse of young girls in Pakistan. What measures are being taken with Pakistan to change the attitude and laws regarding this issue?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We make representations at a senior level, fund programmes addressing child and forced marriage, gender-based violence, discrimination and intolerance against minorities. Our team in Islamabad is focused on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about measures to change attitudes and laws was not directly answered; only mentions of funding programs were provided without concrete policy changes or timelines.

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