Pakistan has summoned the UK’s senior diplomat in Islamabad over a protest in the English city of Bradford, issuing a formal demarche after what it described as “provocative statements” were made against the country’s civil and military leadership.
The Foreign Office in Pakistan said it called in the UK’s deputy head of mission, Matt Kennel, at 2pm on Friday to convey Islamabad’s concerns about the demonstration, which took place near a Pakistani consulate in Bradford.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the demarche urged British authorities to take note of threats made against Pakistan’s leadership on United Kingdom soil and to ensure their territory is not used for activities that could destabilise Pakistan.
“The demarche was issued after provocative statements were made against Pakistan’s civil and military leadership from British soil,” he said, adding that the UK was asked to “hold those responsible accountable under the law”.
Earlier, the Pakistani government had formally written to British authorities seeking action over statements made during the Bradford protest.
The move was confirmed to Geo News by minister of state for home Talal Chaudhry and minister of state for finance Bilal Kayani. Kayani said footage of the protest included what he described as a threat against the head of Pakistan’s armed forces.
Kayani also referred to the alleged involvement of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, while Chaudhry did not name any specific group.
A video circulating on social media shows a woman making a violent remark without naming an individual, surrounded by people holding PTI flags. Asked about the footage, Chaudhry said Pakistan had formally raised the matter with the UK and expected action to be taken in line with British law.
Kayani said the remarks in the video were unacceptable and claimed the PTI had a history of using threats as part of its political activity.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s home minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government would seek the return from the UK of YouTubers accused of targeting state institutions, signalling a tougher stance on overseas political activism.
The incident adds to ongoing diplomatic sensitivities between Pakistan and the UK over political protests and online activity by Pakistani nationals based abroad.
