asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will raise during the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan the matters dealt with in the Minority Rights Group International report State of the World's Minorities 2008 under the heading Pakistan in Crisis: Religious Minorities under Pressure. [HL3458]

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) raised the rights of persons belonging to minority groups in Pakistan. Through the UPR, we welcomed Pakistan's recent decision to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture. We also asked how Pakistan plans to ensure the full implementation of these covenants to safeguard the rights of all citizens of Pakistan including non-Muslim minorities, by repealing laws that discriminate against them. In addition, we asked Pakistan's delegation to the UN Human Rights Council what practical and legislative plans the Government of Pakistan have to safeguard religious, social and cultural rights for minorities.