Newsletter – August 2008 Visit of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Our New Hon. President Qureshi to UK (APP – July 24, 2008) Foreign Minister Shah The Society extends a Mahmood Qureshi in his very warm welcome to maiden official visit of three the newly appointed days met with British Ministers High Commissioner for including Foreign Secretary the Islamic Republic of David Miliband, Defence Pakistan HE Mr. Wajid Secretary Des Browne and Shamsul Hasan. His Communities Secretary Hazel Excellency formally Blears. He also had talks with assumed charge on 23 the Leader of H.M. Opposition June 2008. David Cameron and Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague in addition to speaking at a Earlier, he visited the think tank, IISS and attending a roundtable conference in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to hand over parliament. a copy of his credentials. The formal presentation of credentials to Her Majesty The Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed David Cameron at the House of Queen will follow in due course. Commons on Indo-Pakistan relations, Pak-Afghan ties and informed him of the efforts Pakistan Government is making to This is his second stint as Pakistan’s top keep relationship positive. He also briefed Cameron on three diplomat in London having earlier served in the pronged comprehensive strategy of the democratic Government same capacity from 1994 to 1996. to counter extremism and terrorism. The Foreign Minister said UK was the third largest trading partner of Pakistan in the world and At the Society’s 55th Annual Dinner on 24th the largest in European Union. He urged support for Pakistan’s June at Lincoln’s Inn, the High Commissioner efforts to gain GSP plus status in the EU. Cameron said UK praised the role of the Society as the standard believed in free trade and that he would use his influence in bearers of friendship and harmony between the obtaining GSP plus status for Pakistan. Cameron said he was two countries and its peoples. He said “Since looking forward to his visit to Pakistan from September 2 to 4. its inception in 1951, the Pakistan Society has been in the forefront of efforts to promote better In his meeting with Communities Secretary Blears, Mr Qureshi understanding between our two peoples and said one million strong British-Pakistan community is a useful bringing them closer. Its activities have added linkage between Pakistan and United Kingdom. He said Pakistan significance in our changing world which is has an abiding and profound interest in augmenting bilateral becoming more and more cosmopolitan in its relations to their mutual advantage. He added that Pakistan and essence and outlook” Britain has shared values and commonality of perceptions on regional and global issues including democracy and fight against terrorism. The Foreign Minister underscored the importance of In this issue: employment and economic development for weaning away the House of Commons P2 youth of the ethnic community from terrorism. Commonwealth P3 Human Rights Council P3 The Centaurus P4 The Foreign Minister also noted the presence of four British- ICC Trophy 2008 P5 Pakistanis in the House of Commons, as many in the House of Badshahi Mosque P6 Lords and one in the European Parliament and one as a member Hon. Vice President of The History of Pakistan P6 of the British cabinet. The Communities Secretary spoke of the Pakistan Society, Sir David Olympics P7 RIAT 2008 P8 significant profile of British-Pakistanis in the British politics, Green KCMG is the new Chairman of the Royal Des Browne MP P8 parliament and in local government. She said there is a record Commonwealth Society. Events P9 number of 280 councillors of Pakistan origin including four Other Events P10 mayors and one deputy mayor. Blears told the Foreign Minister He was previously Director ______________________ Next Event: Reception at that she would be visiting Pakistan from July 28 to 30 and will General of the British Council, Director of VSO, deputy to the 6.30pm on Wednesday, 27 meet a number of Parliamentarians in Islamabad. She will also Director-General of Save the August 2008 at the High pay a visit to the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi. Children, and Director of Commission for Pakistan, Children's Relief International. London SW1 1 House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan House of Commons Hansard Written Answers Purpose: To provide a forum to discuss all matters for 3 July 2008 (pt 0023) related to Pakistan and also pertinent issues related to Pakistanis living in the UK. 3 July 2008: Column 1129W Officers Chair: Stewart Jackson (Con) Vice-Chairs: Dr Brian Iddon (Lab) Rob Wilson (Con) Treasurer/Secretary: Paul Rowen (LD) Pakistan: Politics and Government Twenty Qualifying Members Government Party: Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage democratic 1. Lyn Brown developments in Pakistan; and if he will make a 2. Dr Brian Iddon 3. Harry Cohen statement. [214430] 4. Lord Ahmed 5. Gordon Prentice Dr. Howells: To support a sustained democratic 6. Marsha Singh transition in Pakistan, we are talking to leaders from 7. Madeleine Moon across the political spectrum. The recent visits by my 8. Baroness Uddin right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary, the Home 9. Lord Clarke of Hampstead Secretary and the Defence Secretary, have 10. Lord Evans of Watford emphasised to Pakistan’s leaders the UK’s commitment to promoting good governance, Main Opposition Party: strengthening democratic institutions, electoral reform and combating violent extremism and terrorism. We 11. Stewart Jackson are encouraging Pakistan’s political leaders to work 12. Rob Wilson together and take a comprehensive approach to 13. Greg Hands development, governance and security so that a more 14. Ian Liddell-Grainger 15. Lord Elton prosperous and stable society based on parliamentary 16. Brooks Newmark democracy and the rule of law can be established. Other: We are also supporting the institutional capacity needed for a stable democracy to take root in 17. Paul Rowen (LD) Pakistan. The Department for International 18. Richard Younger-Ross (LD) Development provided £3.5 million to support the 19. Baroness Northover (LD) recent electoral process in Pakistan. This programme 20. Lord McNally (LD) supported the administrative capacity of the Election Commission of Pakistan and civil society work to Contact details for correspondence and general increase turnout and educate voters. The UK enquiries about the Group: Mr Stewart Jackson supported and participated in the EU Election MP, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA. Tel: 020 Observation Mission (EUEOM) in February 2008 and 7219 5046 will support the electoral reforms recommended in the EUEOM final report. UK development assistance to The Nature of All-Party Groups Pakistan will double to £480 million over the next three years. This assistance includes work to strengthen civil society and the capability of government and help to All-party groups are regarded as relatively informal improve government accountability and compared with other cross-party bodies such as select committees of the House. The membership of all-party responsiveness. groups mainly comprises backbench Members of the House of Commons and Lords but may also include We are also working with EU partners to enhance the ministers and non-parliamentarians. Groups flourish and EU’s commitment to Pakistan to provide assistance wane according to the interests and enthusiasm of and cooperation on economic development and trade, Members. Most country groups are affiliated to the counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, human rights, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's UK Branch migration and education. and/or the Inter-Parliamentary Union's British Group. 3 Pakistan committed to the Pakistan and UK re-elected to UN Commonwealth Human Rights Council (May 2008) Pakistan was re-elected to the new UN Human Rights Council, reflecting renewed international confidence in the country following its return to full democracy. Elections to fill 15 of the 47 seats on the Geneva- based Council took place in the 192-member General Assembly. Other elected from Asia were Japan, Bahrain and South Korea. Pakistan polled Commonwealth Secretary-General Mr Kamalesh Sharma with 114 votes when 97 votes were required. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at Marlborough House on the 25th July 2008 Pakistan’s permanent representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram said: “Pakistan Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said looks forward to continuing its active contribution to that the Government of Pakistan greatly valued its the promotion and protection of human rights all Commonwealth membership and was firmly committed over the world, especially the right to development to upholding the democratic principles of the and economic and social prosperity as well as Commonwealth. political and civil rights.” During a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary- Commenting on the UK's re-election to the UN General Mr Kamalesh Sharma in London on 25 July, Human Rights Council, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Qureshi said that following the elections held on 18 David Miliband said; February the new Government of Pakistan was upholding the established Commonwealth principles of 'The UK's election to the Human Rights Council is democracy including freedom of speech and great news. This underscores the UK's commitment expression. He added that Pakistan was keen to play to the highest standards of human rights both at an active role and contribute more effectively to the home and around the world. Commonwealth. The Secretary-General said that Commonwealth experience and expertise was available for the Government of Pakistan in various 'The UN plays a vital role in the promotion and areas of governance. Mr Sharma also accepted with protection of human rights worldwide, and the pleasure an invitation from the Pakistan Foreign Human Rights Council has a key responsibility to Minister to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.