RESIGNATION OF PAKISTANI MINISTER FOR TOURISM NILOFAR BAKHTIAR

Early day motion 1561, tabled 23 May 2007 by Dari Taylor (Labour). Signed by 77 members.

That this House recognises the importance of women playing a full role in politics and the important qualities women bring to political life; congratulates the government of Pakistan for making significant moves towards ensuring that women are better represented in democracy and politics; notes that over 21 per cent. of the members of the National Assembly are women and over 17 per cent. of the members of the Senate are women; applauds the work of Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar as Pakistan Tourism Minister to promote the culture, heritage and beauty of her country to the rest of the world; expresses profound regret that Senator Bakhtiar felt forced to offer her resignation as a Minister by men who used intimidatory methods to frighten and undermine her, whose only action to cause this outrageous behaviour was to hug an instructor following a charity parachute jump in which she participated to raise money for child victims of the 2005 earthquake; and strongly condemns the fact that Islamabad clerics have subsequently issued a fatwa against her, effectively placing her life under threat.

Signatures by party: Labour 57, Liberal Democrat 12, Conservative 5, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.