Britain should stop direct aid to Pakistan unless its government acts to protect Christians and other minorities, human rights activist Peter Tatchell has said.

He spoke out after the Pakistan government announced further restrictions on Christians’ civil liberties. Pakistan’s education minister, Mohammad Balighur Rahman, said Koranic education would be compulsory for all schoolchildren.

Mr Tatchell, a veteran activist best known as a gay rights campaigner, said: “This is the latest escalation of the country’s bias against Christians, other minority faiths and non-believers.”