Liberal MP Michael Sukkar believes Pakistan can seek financial aid as a "global citizen," but must first stamp out the abuse of its own citizens.
In his speech before Parliament, the member for Deakin highlighted the case of Asia Bibi, a 53-year-old Christian woman who has been on death row in Pakistan since 2010 for blasphemy against Islam.
Earlier this month, Ms Bibi had her appeal heard by the Supreme Court and was awaiting a verdict.
Mr Sukkar highlighted the case as an example of rights abuses in Pakistan.
Asia Bibi Source: AAP
“Many international onlookers stand by Asia Bibi and see her plight as a symbol of suffering in the face of terrible intolerance and injustice," he said.
"The imminent decision provides both a challenge and an opportunity to the people of Pakistan at a time when fundamentalists continue to exert pressure.
“There is a growing concern that the blasphemy laws in Pakistan are becoming a tool to target minority groups.
“During the general election campaign in the middle of this year the now Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, vowed to defend these blasphemy laws."
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the federal government was "deeply concerned" about the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan, including the high profile case of Ms Bibi.
“Foreign Minister Senator the Hon Marise Payne launched Australia’s strategy for the abolition of the death penalty on 15 October 2018 which articulates, as a matter of principle, that the death penalty has no place in the modern world," a DFAT spokesman said.
"Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances for all people.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has made regular representations in relation to Ms Bibi’s case. These have strongly expressed our concerns with the misuse of blasphemy laws, the death penalty and their impact on freedom of religious belief in Pakistan.
“As a member, Australia has actively raised concerns about Pakistan’s blasphemy laws during the recent 38th and 39th sessions of the Human Rights Council.”
October 2018: Protests in Pakistan against Christian woman Asia Bibi, who has been sentenced to death for blasphemy. Source: AAP
Foreign aid to Pakistan
Mr Sukkar said this year Australia was going to spend more than $40 million in direct aid to Pakistan.
“When Australia supports foreign aid as it does, it has a number of objectives in mind, one of them supporting stabilisation and resilience," he said.
“Holding a belief is not a crime. A regime killing people for an alternative belief is.
"Supporting Pakistan’s stability is critical to economic growth and development.
"If this objective is to be fully realised, our support must be in contingent on countries like Pakistan, ensuring that they don’t violate these most basic of human rights.
"The people of Australia expect aid to reach those people that are in need, not to prop up extreme regimes.
"And no person requires more assistance than those who are prevented from access to the most basic of human rights, thought and life.”
However, the Australian Council for International Development disagreed with Mr Sukkar's call to cease aid to Pakistan.
“We don’t agree that Australia should cut aid to Pakistan. Australia’s official aid program, and our NGO-members working in Pakistan, supports the realisation of human rights for Pakistan’s people," a spokesperson said.
“Through Australia’s aid program, this includes a focus on promoting women’s empowerment and supporting the delivery of education to over 40,000 children.
"The prosecution of Asia Bibi and removal of her right to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion is totally wrong, but we should not remove our support to help others fulfil their human rights because of it."
Australia is Pakistan’s sixth-largest bilateral donor.
In 2017-18, key achievements of Australia’s aid program to Pakistan included:
- Enabling 3800 female survivors of domestic violence to access support services
- Providing 42,500 women and children access to good nutrition and 300,000 children access to Vitamin A supplementation
- Supporting the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province to deliver quality education to over 43,800 children
- Supporting 26,000 poor farmers through agribusiness and market opportunities
- Helping Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce strengthen its trade-related policies, institutions and regulations
