Neil Parish MP received a reply to a recent written question on Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Neil is a passionate campaigner against the persecution of Christians abroad.

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with the government of Pakistan regarding the constitutional Federal Shariah Court in Pakistan's call for the implementation of the death penalty against those found guilty of breaking blasphemy laws; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson (Minister of State; Faversham and Mid Kent, Conservative): It is our long standing policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. The Prime Minister reiterated this to the House during questions on 29 January. Ministers regularly raise the issue of the death penalty in Pakistan at the highest levels both in terms of our principled stance and in supporting cases of British nationals facing the death penalty overseas. We also continue to regularly raise the issue of the blasphemy laws at a senior level with the authorities in Pakistan. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi most recently raised our opposition to the death penalty with the Chief Minister of the Punjab on 27 January in the case of a British national convicted under Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 3 February 2014, c63W)