We call for stronger terms for aid to Pakistan

"I urge William Hague to obtain guarantees from foreign governments before they are given aid. To increase aid to the Pakistan government when religious freedom is not upheld and those who speak up for religious freedom are gunned down is tantamount to an anti-Christian foreign policy."

We the undersigned petitioners believe that any aid given by Britain to Pakistan should have approriate accountability and traceability.  We urge the Government of the UK to ensure that a significant proportion of the £225m given in aid last year for improvents to the educational provision in Pakistan, is used to level the diasparity of opportunity between minority faith groups and the Muslim majority.  We call for this disproportionality to be set as a priority before and above overall holistic educational reform.  Only 7% of minority people in Pakistan attain an adequate level of literacy and 86%of minority people work as janitors, sewarage workers or domestic servants.

We also call for the UK to use the commitment to provide aid to challenge the Government of Pakistan to take tangible steps towards a better human rights record (currently 125th out of 160 countries on UN Development index).  Christians and other minorities are subjected to violence, abuse and intolerance that has recently led to the death of the great humanitarian Shahbaz Bhatti a Federal minister dedicted to protecting the oppressed.

We believe that the time for a softly, softly approach is over.  If we wish to see change then the UK Government will have to be bolder and more vigorous in its foreign policy on Pakistan.  We support Cardinal Keith O'Brien's premise and call for an immediate cessation of aid should the Pakistan Government fail to adhere to such stipulations.

Petition creator Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association

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