London: May 20, 2011. (PCP) CLAAS has questioned the accuracy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual report on democracy and human rights which makes no mention of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the plight of the country’s religious minorities. The report dedicates 10 pages to Pakistan but says nothing of the enormous human rights abuses being carried out against Christians and other minorities as a direct consequence of the blasphemy laws. CLAAS has raised its concerns in a submission to the FCO following the publication of the 2010 report. In it, CLAAS UK Coordinator Nasir Saeed says: “I don’t see this report as being comprehensive unless a chapter is included about religious minorities, who are suffering because of their faith both at the society level and the government level because of discriminatory policies.” Whilst the FCO report praises the Pakistani government for its ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention Against Torture, Mr Saeed warns that these steps still fall short of convincing the international community of the commitment of President Zardari’s administration to the promotion of human rights. “In profound contrast with these initiatives, the human rights situation in Pakistan has greatly deteriorated particularly for members of religious minorities,” he said. Mr Saeed raises particular concern over the murders of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who was shot dead by his own bodyguard in January after voicing support for the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy last November; and for Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minorities Minister and outspoken campaigner for reform of the blasphemy laws who was shot dead by gunmen in March. “Following the recent killing of Governor Salman Taseer and Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, questions need to be asked about the government’s ability and willingness to protect those who speak out against extremism,” he says. The submission raises concern over the misuse of the blasphemy laws by extremists and serious weaknesses in Pakistan’s judicial system, namely corruption. “Judges and lawyers are often intimidated resulting in shambolic trials falling short of Pakistan’s International Human Rights obligations,” says Mr Saeed. The amendment or repeal of [the blasphemy laws] is an absolutely necessity for the survival of religious minorities in Pakistan. “Yet the Government is paralysed by fears of Islamist street power from those who are against any changes to these laws. “As a result it is unable to ensure protection for those who speak against the laws". The submission ends with a challenge to the UK government to “recognise the plight and danger” faced by religious minorities in Pakistan and “open up its doors to all refugees who have nowhere else to go”.