The British government urged strict action against those who threatened to attack the army chief
The Foreign Office on Friday summoned the British deputy head of mission and lodged a formal protest against recent anti-government demonstrations in Bradford. The protests, held near the Pakistani consulate, involved provocative rhetoric and violent threats against Pakistani leadership.
According to sources, the political account of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Britain was used to mobilize protesters. During the demonstration, inflammatory language was used against the Chief of Defense Field Marshal Asim Munir. Pakistan has taken these threats seriously and is demanding that Britain prevent its soil from being used to destabilize Pakistan.
The demarche from the MoFA underlined the gravity of the situation. Pakistan has urged the British government to take strict action against those responsible and hold them accountable to the full extent of the law. The Foreign Office statement stressed that such actions directly contravene international norms and UK counter-terrorism laws.
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The UK’s counter-terrorism laws, including the 2006 Counter-Terrorism Act, make it clear that inciting terrorism is a serious offence. UN Security Council Resolution 1373 obliges states to prevent terrorism, including the incitement and financial support of such acts. The demonstration, organized by elements associated with the PTI, has raised concerns over the misuse of British territory for anti-Pakistan rhetoric.
On December 23, PTI’s official X account posted a highly inflammatory video which showed protesters in Bradford openly threatening Field Marshal Munir. This rhetoric is not a legitimate exercise of free speech or political dissent, but rather constitutes incitement to terrorism. It is deeply worrying that PTI’s social media platforms shared this call, further spreading the violent message.
The UK government’s failure to address this problem could be seen as a breach of international law. Pakistan has expressed its grave concern over the use of British soil for such harmful activities and calls on the UK to live up to its obligations under international anti-terrorism conventions. Pakistan has demanded that the people involved in this protest be identified and that legal action be taken against them after thorough investigations.
