Vol. 562 No. 1
299 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Government of Pakistan the murderous sectarian attacks in 2002 at Taxila and Murree Christian schools; and if he has ascertained the measures the Government has taken to disarm militant groups. [5246/03]
The security and human rights issue in Pakistan is a matter of deep concern to the Government and to our EU partners.
In August 2002, six people were killed in an attack on a Christian missionary school in Murree, north of Islamabad. In the same week, three nurses were killed at the Christian hospital in Taxila, near the national capital. All of the victims were reported to be Pakistani nationals.
On 7 August, EU Heads of Mission, on behalf of all EU partners, conveyed to the Pakistani authorities their deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Pakistan, and in the Islamabad area in particular. In reply, the Secretary of the Pakistani Ministry of the Interior asserted that sufficient security arrangements were in place in Islamabad. It was agreed, nonetheless, to improve daily communication with the EU embassies.
On 14 February 2003, a further EU démarche took place in Islamabad. The deep concern of the EU about a number of human rights issues was again conveyed to the authorities there. These included the protection offered to religious minorities, the abolition of the death penalty and gender discrimination against women. In response, the Pakistani State Secretary of Law, Justice and Human Rights signalled an intention to form a small working group of members of the national assembly to pursue such issues and invited representatives of EU missions to participate.
We, in conjunction with our EU partners, will continue to monitor closely the situation in Pakistan and press for the fullest observance of human rights, including the security of religious minorities, in that country.
