Thank you for contacting me about the Government in Pakistan. I absolutely understand your concerns and I can assure you that I have been following this developing situation extremely closely. 

I recognise that a number of organisations, including Stop State Fascism, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have raised concerns about alleged human rights infringements in Pakistan, and I agree that any such allegations must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently.

I believe the only path to a safe, secure, prosperous Pakistan is through respect for human rights, democratic processes, and the rule of law, with the meaningful and free participation of all sectors of society.

As you may be aware, on 24 May, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concern at the situation in Pakistan where hard-earned gains and the rule of law are at serious risk. He raised particular concern at reports that Pakistan intends to revive the use of military courts to try civilians – which would contravene its international human rights law obligations.

I understand that the British High Commission in Islamabad is closely monitoring the situation regarding the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and the United Kingdom regularly engages the Government of Pakistan at a senior level on the need to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights.

More widely, Britain’s voice in the world is a reflection of the moral leadership that we demonstrate on human rights, and we must continue to urge others to respect the rule of law and the freedoms and rights that every human being is entitled to.

I believe we should put human rights at the heart of our international policies with consistency and a commitment to act to defend the liberties and rights all around the world. This matters now more than ever because a global trend towards authoritarianism and human rights abuses could prevail if we do not utilise every weapon in our diplomatic and legal arsenal to counter it.