Edinburgh MP raises plight of Mohammad Asghar at Westminster

The Edinburgh North and Leith MP, Mark Lazarowicz raised a question in Parliament about the fate of 70 year-old Mohammad Asghar from Edinburgh who is detained in prison in Pakistan on Thursday when he asked the Leader of the House of Commons, William Hague the following question:

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware from his previous role of the case of Mohammad Asghar, a 70-year-old man from Edinburgh who was sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy. Recently, Mr Asghar was severely injured in prison after being shot by a policeman. The Scottish Government have now indicated that they might be prepared to agree to a prisoner transfer, which could be a way forward. Will the Government listen sympathetically to that proposal and arrange for a Minister to issue an oral or a written statement to give us an update on the case?

Mr Hague replied:  “I do recall that very disturbing case, and the hon. Gentleman is quite right to raise it in the House and draw our attention to it again. I will have to refer his question to my right hon. and hon. Friends at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and ask them to respond to him and to look at the idea that he has just promoted.”

 

The Edinburgh Evening News reports that the family of the pensioner, who is said to be ill, handed in a petition to Downing Street on Friday asking for the UK Government to take action in having Mr Asghar released from custody.