FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN PAKISTAN

That this House warmly welcomes the appointment of the prominent human rights activist Shahbaz Bhatti, President of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs; applauds the decision by the Government of Pakistan to include this ministerial position in the Cabinet for the first time; encourages the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to provide Mr Bhatti with full support in his efforts to promote religious freedom and equal rights for all the people of Pakistan; calls on the Government to engage fully with the President, Prime Minister, Minister for Minorities Affairs and other ministers on issues of human rights and religious freedom; and urges the Government of Pakistan to make significant progress towards the repeal of the blasphemy laws which are so widely abused and cause so much injustice for so many people.