Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua summoned the British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew on Friday over slogans being displayed on London cabs that directly attack Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Office, the high commissioner was informed that Pakistan, in line with the UN Charter, rejects actions and advertisements with malicious content that impinge on our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It said that the issue was also being raised with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by our High Commissioner in London.
Pakistan is aware of the intentions of such sinister and malicious campaigns, which should not be allowed on the soil of a friendly country, the FO statement read.
According to media reports, posters reading “Free Balochistan” slogans also appeared on vehicles in London.
A similar campaign in Geneva around the time of the UN General Assembly meeting had irked Pakistan earlier this year. “Any notion of ‘Free Baluchistan’ is a flagrant attack on sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan,” Pakistan’s permanent representative to UN had written to Swiss authorities.
He had linked the posters to the Balochistan Liberation Army, which, he said, is a listed terrorist organisation under the laws of Pakistan and other countries, including the United Kingdom.
In September this year, Pakistan had summoned the Swiss ambassador over the public display of anti-Pakistan posters by a group in Switzerland.
It was also underlined that the Free Baluchistan posters in Geneva’s had been sponsored by a group linked with the BLA, which has been proscribed by Pakistan as well as some other countries for its violent actions in Balochistan.
Foreign office has done right job to summon British High Commissioner on the issue but it is not enough. Pakistan needs more concrete measures to protect its integrity and sovereignty. The current sinister and malicious campaign against Pakistan is not new as in the past we have witnessed such anti-Pakistan campaigns. Pakistan and United Kingdom enjoys good relations and huge Pakistani Diaspora is present. It is unfortunate that such anti-Pakistan campaign is being held in friendly country’s soil. India and anti-Pakistan elements are sponsoring Balochistan Liberation Army and others such banned organization for their nefarious designs. Through such dirty campaigns India wants to divert attention of the world from the serious human rights violation in Occupied Kashmir. Pakistan should strongly take up the issue with the higher authorities in United Kingdom and at international forum. It should lodge strong protest and leave no stone unturned to expose hands before this malicious campaign.