UK MP Bob Blackman raises alarm over Hindu persecution in Pakistan, demands govt response
Synopsis
On the eve of Diwali, a British MP used the floor of the House of Commons to confront his own government over its silence on Hindu persecution in Pakistan — citing a damning advocacy report that documents over 1,000 forced abductions and conversions a year, and arguing that UK aid money gives Britain both leverage and moral obligation to act.
Key Takeaways
Bob Blackman , UK Conservative MP and APPG for British Hindus chair, raised the issue of Hindu persecution in Pakistan in the House of Commons on 31 October 2026 .
He cited a recent report by advocacy group Insight UK , which the APPG received days earlier and described as 'horrific reading'.
According to the report, more than 1,000 women and girls from Hindu and Christian communities are abducted, forcibly converted, and forcibly married in Pakistan every year.
Blackman called on the Leader of the House to bring the Foreign Secretary or a Foreign Office Minister to Parliament to explain government action.
Insight UK argued the UK , as a major aid donor to Pakistan, has both leverage and a human rights obligation to intervene.
The British government had not formally responded at the time of the parliamentary address.
UK Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament Bob Blackman raised serious concerns in the House of Commons on 31 October 2026 over the systematic persecution of Hindus in Pakistan, calling on the British government to explain what concrete steps it was taking to protect religious minorities in the South Asian nation.
The Parliamentary Appeal
Addressing the House of Commons, Blackman — who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Hindus — cited a recent report by advocacy group Insight UK, which he described as making 'horrific reading'. He urged the Leader of the House to bring either the Foreign Secretary or a Foreign Office Minister to Parliament to account for the government's response.
'I ask the Leader of the House to get either the Foreign Secretary or a Foreign Office Minister to come to the House and tell us what the Government is doing to safeguard minority communities, not just in this country, as is right, but in countries where they are severely oppressed,' Blackman said.
What the Insight UK Report Found
The Insight UK report, received by the APPG just days before Blackman's address, alleged that Islamist extremists have systematically targeted Pakistan's Hindu community — their places of worship and livelihoods — while Pakistani authorities and the wider international community have, in the group's assessment, 'turned a blind eye'.
According to the report, more than 1,000 women and girls from Hindu and Christian communities in Pakistan are abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and forcibly married to their captors every year. The group characterised these as not isolated incidents but part of a systemic pattern of 'ideologically motivated sexual abuse' targeting religious minority women.
'Cases also demonstrate how families are unsuccessful in their attempts to challenge these crimes using legal avenues, which highlights how such despicable atrocities are facilitated by institutions in Pakistan,' the report stated.
The UK's Responsibility, According to Blackman
Blackman and Insight UK both argued that the United Kingdom, as one of the largest donors of overseas aid to Pakistan, bears a particular responsibility to press Islamabad on minority rights. The group further warned that the failure to protect Hindu citizens risks accelerating radicalisation and could trigger 'a total humanitarian collapse for its remaining religious minorities'.
'The proliferation of Islamist extremism and militant violence has not only targeted minorities but has also threatened the very fabric of regional stability,' Insight UK stated.
Diwali Context
Blackman's remarks were also framed around the convergence of Diwali and Remembrance Sunday this year, a rare alignment he used to draw a sharp contrast between celebrations in the UK and conditions facing Hindus in Pakistan. 'Any Hindus who are in Pakistan are in serious trouble at the moment,' he said, after wishing all Hindus, Sikhs and Jains a 'Shubh Diwali' on behalf of the House.
What Happens Next
The British government has yet to formally respond to Blackman's call for a ministerial statement on minority persecution in Pakistan. Pressure from the APPG and advocacy groups is expected to mount in the coming parliamentary sessions, particularly given the UK's bilateral aid relationship with Islamabad.
Point of View
A lever that British governments have historically been reluctant to pull on Pakistan. The Insight UK report's figure of over 1,000 forced conversions annually is striking but requires independent verification; it is attributed to the advocacy group, not a UN or government data source. What the episode exposes is a broader pattern in which Western democracies with deep bilateral ties to Islamabad — trade, aid, diaspora, counterterrorism cooperation — consistently stop short of formal diplomatic pressure on minority rights. Whether this Commons intervention translates into a ministerial statement or quietly fades, as previous such calls have, will be the real test of its significance.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did UK MP Bob Blackman say about Hindus in Pakistan?
Bob Blackman, speaking in the House of Commons on 31 October 2026, said Hindus in Pakistan are 'in serious trouble' and urged the British government to have either the Foreign Secretary or a Foreign Office Minister address Parliament on what steps are being taken to protect religious minorities in Pakistan. He cited a report by advocacy group Insight UK, which he described as 'horrific reading'.
What does the Insight UK report say about Hindu persecution in Pakistan?
The Insight UK report, submitted to the APPG for British Hindus, alleges that Islamist extremists have systematically targeted Pakistan's Hindu community, their places of worship, and their livelihoods. It states that over 1,000 women and girls from Hindu and Christian communities are abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and forcibly married every year, with families unable to seek legal redress.
Why does the UK have a special responsibility, according to Blackman?
Blackman and Insight UK argue that the United Kingdom is one of the largest donors of overseas aid to Pakistan and is committed to freedom of religion and belief as a fundamental human right — making it both morally and diplomatically obligated to press Islamabad on minority protections.
Has the British government responded to Blackman's call?
As of the parliamentary address on 31 October 2026, the British government had not issued a formal response to Blackman's request for a ministerial statement. Pressure from the APPG and advocacy groups is expected to continue in upcoming parliamentary sessions.
What is the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus?
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Hindus is a cross-party group of UK parliamentarians that advocates for the interests of British Hindus and raises issues affecting Hindu communities globally. Bob Blackman, a Conservative MP, chairs the group and has been a prominent voice on Hindu minority rights internationally.
