To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent events in Pakistan; and what steps are being considered by his Department to encourage the release of political prisoners. (166367)

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) on 20 November, Official Report, column 1092.

Through our high commission in Islamabad we are continuing urgently to seek access to political activists and members of civil society who have been detained, and to press for their release. We welcome the release of many of those who have been held under the state of emergency: this is a step in the right direction, but we continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to release all political prisoners as soon as possible.