ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Friday summoned the UK high commissioner and issued a formal demarche following “provocative” statements made during a protest outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford, where comments aimed at the country’s civil and military leaders were broadcast.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that the UK envoy was called and formally conveyed Pakistan’s concerns.
“The demarche was issued after provocative statements were made against Pakistan’s civil and military leaders from British soil,” he said, adding that Islamabad had urged British authorities to “hold responsible elements accountable in accordance with the law.”
However, in response to Pakistan’s outcry over alleged threats made against senior military leaders during the protest, the British High Commission has called on the Pakistani government to provide concrete evidence of any crimes committed on UK soil.
The British High Commission conveyed to Islamabad that surveillance and prosecution in the United Kingdom operates independently of the government. He clarified that if a foreign government believes that a crime has been committed within British territory, it must present all relevant evidence through the designated police liaison officer in the United Kingdom.
A spokesman for the British High Commission said any material found to be in breach of British law would be assessed by police and, on that basis, criminal investigations could be launched if necessary.
The spokesperson said the UK follows established legal procedures and due process, and that law enforcement authorities will examine any evidence provided to determine whether it meets the threshold for action under British law.
It is pertinent to note that FO’s move followed public statements by two state ministers of the ruling PML-N, who said Pakistan had formally written to the UK authorities seeking action over “inciting” comments, particularly in reference to a video circulating on social media.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Talal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani confirmed the development in separate media interactions, with Kayani claiming that “the armed forces chief was threatened” in the video. While Kayani named the opposition PTI in connection with the incident, Chaudhry did not.
The video shows a woman, surrounded by people holding PTI flags, making comments wishing harm to an anonymous individual, including saying that they should “blow him up in a car.”
Responding to questions on the matter, Chaudhry said: “Pakistan has formally written to the UK, expecting it to act in accordance with its laws and judicial system.”
He argued that Pakistan had the right to take legal action against those who “attack its institutions”.
He recalled that similar concerns had been raised in the past about “the use of social media platforms to incite hatred against state institutions and political figures,” adding that “footage of the incident is available.”
“This is not a political issue, nor is it related to freedom of expression,” he said, calling it a clear breach of international law and British law, specifically citing the UK Counter Terrorism Act 2006.
“Each State is responsible for ensuring that its citizens, or those who have requested asylum, or those residing there, do not act to incite rebellion or violence against other sovereign States,” he stressed.
“What’s worrying is the specific mention of a car bomb explosion, which makes it a specific issue; it’s not widespread, it seems to be carefully planned.”
“It appears as if there is a broader plan involved and Pakistan has raised these concerns,” he added. “Inciting terrorism or provoking people was not synonymous with freedom of expression.”
“You cannot have people in one state promoting terrorism against another sovereign state,” he said, expressing hope that the British government would take action, while warning that “Pakistan also has other options” in case of non-compliance.
Minister of State for Finance Kayani termed the incident shown in the video as “unacceptable” and “unfortunate”, accusing the PTI of spreading violence and threats “under the guise of politics”.
“We have repeatedly said that the PTI spreads violence and threats under the guise of politics, justifies threats and abuses freedom of expression,” he said, adding that the party had “crossed a line” by “threatening the armed forces chief with assassination under the guise of a political protest.”
“That’s not politics.[..] “It is unacceptable,” Kayani said, calling the PTI a “threat to national security” and alleging that it had systematically used politics to cover up “violence.”
“Whether on May 9, use the KP police to attack soldiers and threaten the army chief [ ] “If that’s not a threat to national security, what is?” he said.
Asked if further measures were being considered, Kayani said: “First, we urge the UK government to take immediate legal action and investigate the matter,” adding that the government remained open to “exploring other legal options.”
