WRITTEN QUESTION E-0659/02

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 March 2002)

Subject: Cooperation agreement with Pakistan

Will the Commission ensure that the following five points are included in its cooperation agreement with Pakistan? If not, why not?

1. To repeal the blasphemy laws and any laws which discriminate against others on the grounds of their religion.

2. For the Government of Pakistan to support minority rights, end the persecution of religious minorities such as Christians and ensure that there is religious freedom.

3. For Pakistan to become a secular state (this would contribute to the improvement of the situation for non-Muslims in Pakistan such as Christians and Hindus).

4. For the Government of Pakistan to curb the power and influence of the Madrasas i.e. the Islamic religious schools which have been a breeding ground for Muslim militancy in Pakistan, and of which several have also been supportive of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

5. For the Government of Pakistan to reaffirm its commitment to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

As the Community/Pakistan (EC/PAK) co-operation Agreement is already signed, the text of the Agreement cannot be changed at this stage. However, the entry into force of this Agreement, offers the possibility to re-establish the full co-operation dialogue with Pakistan, including on sensitive human rights issues. The new Agreement contains a clause (Article 1) in which both sides affirm that respect for human rights and democratic principles constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.

On the points raised in the Honourable Member's written question, the Commission would like to comment as follows:

1. The Commission remains concerned about the application of the blasphemy law, as a disproportionate number of cases have been brought against religious minorities. The blasphemy law has been raised by the Union with the authorities on a number of occasions.

At a human rights conference organised by the Government of Pakistan in April 2000, a procedural reform of the blasphemy law was announced. However, following protests from religious groups the government decided to withdraw the proposal.

2. While there are still problems with regard to the equal treatment of minorities in Pakistan, the recent abolition of separate electorates in advance of the October 2002 National Assembly elections represents a positive step, ending a discriminatory practice and addressing a fundamental human rights concern.

3. Whether or not Pakistan should become a secular state may not be for the Union to decide, but President Musharraf's vision of Pakistan as a progressive Islamic state (as opposed to a theocratic state) as expressed during his 12 January 2002 speech has been appreciated by the international community.

4. On the Madrasas (religious schools) President Musharraf announced in his 12 January 2002 speech that these will have to be registered by the end of March 2002, and that no new Madrasas are to open without government permission.

5. Pakistan has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in September 1966, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in November 1990 and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in March 1996. Some positive steps were taken by the current administration, in particular the promulgation of a Juvenile Justice System Ordinance protecting children's rights and the establishing of a National Commission on the Status of Women. The government has further formulated an action plan and policy to eradicate the worst forms of child labour.

Finally, it must be underlined that the Commission is actively participating in joint Union efforts to address human rights issues in Pakistan as part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Within this framework the Commission will continue to address issues of concern. In this connection, Pakistan has been included as a focus country under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, offering enhanced possibilities for cooperation in this area.