ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday summoned British High Commissioner Thomas Drew and lodged strong protest over the hate slogans against Pakistan in London.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua called in the British high commissioner “to convey Pakistan’s serious concern at the display of slogans on London cabs that directly attack Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” a foreign ministry statement said.
It added: “The high commissioner was informed that Pakistan, in line with the UN Charter, reject actions and advertisements with malicious content that impinge on our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The issue was also being raised with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by our high commissioner in London.”
The statement said Pakistan was aware of the intentions of “such sinister and malicious campaigns, which should not be allowed on the soil of a friendly country.”
The cabs inscribed with anti-Pakistan slogans were pictured in London and uploaded on the social media websites by the users.
In September, Pakistan had summoned the Swiss ambassador over the public display of anti-Pakistan posters by a group in Geneva.
The foreign ministry had protested against the Swiss government statement, and said the posters were being used for propaganda by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Pakistan said the BLA had been banned not only by Islamabad but several other countries of the world.
Other posters in Geneva also sought liberation for Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura from Indian tyranny.
PAKISTAN OBSERVING
CATALONIA SITUATION
In a separate statement on Friday, the foreign ministry said Pakistan was observing the situation in Spain after the declaration of independence by Catalonia and invoking of exceptional constitutional measures by the Spanish government.
“It is our earnest hope that the issue will be amicably settled in compliance with the Spanish constitution and law through dialogue and negotiations. We also hope that freedoms and rights of all citizens would be protected,” said the statement. Amid Catalonia's fight for independence, Spain said it had run out of patience.
Spanish Attorney General José Manuel Maza said the jailed Catalan politicians were behind the defiance. Exiled former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont – living in Belgium - demanded the release of his fellow ousted ministers and branded their imprisonment a coup.
“As a legitimate president, I demand the release of the ministers,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif have written letters of condolence to Nusli Wadia, the son of late Dina Wadia, the daughter of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The leaders in their messages said that the people of Pakistan loved Dina Wadia as the daughter of their founding father.
