Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“Canada is appalled by the stoning of a pregnant woman by her family in Lahore, Pakistan on May 27, 2014.

“Such events remain all too common in Pakistan, where, according to some estimates, more than 800 women were victims of so-called “honour” killings in 2013. It is unacceptable for the world to stand by and watch as the most vulnerable are targeted in such a brutal and barbaric way.

“The fact that this killing was done publicly and in front of a Pakistani High Court is even more shocking.

“Canada calls upon the Government of Pakistan to respect its international human rights obligations and bring the perpetrators to justice.”