Islamabad – Embassy (Embassy) French in Pakistan appealed to all French citizens to leave the country. This appeal was released following the holding of anti-French protests that were largely paralyzing Pakistan, this week.
“Due to a serious threat to French interests in Pakistan, French citizens and French companies are advised to leave the country temporarily,” the French embassy said in an email to French citizens. AFP, Thursday (15/4/2021).
“Departures will be made with existing commercial airlines,” the statement added.
Anti-French sentiment has been raging for months in Pakistan since President Emmanuel Macron’s government has expressed support for the right of satire magazine Charlie Hebdo to re-release karikatur Nabi Muhammad which drew protests from Muslims around the world.
On Wednesday (14/4) local time, the Pakistani government banned an extremist political party whose chairman called for the expulsion of the French ambassador.
Saad Rizvi as Chairman Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was detained a few hours after making that appeal. Rizvi’s detention sent thousands of his supporters onto the streets in various cities in Pakistan to protest.
Clashes with the police were inevitable and two policemen were reported killed. Water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets were used by the police to beat back the supporters of the TLP.
In November last year, TLP supporters paralyzed the capital Islamabad for three days by staging a series of anti-French protests.
Watch the video ‘France Extends Lockdown Policy to Entire Regions’:
(nvc / ita)
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