Islamabad: Taking note of the violentprotests that paralysed several cities of Pakistan this week, the French embassy on Thursday advised all French nationals and companies to temporarily leave the country.
The embassy said in an email to French citizens “Due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan, French nationals and French companies are advised to temporarily leave the country”. Dawn quoted the embassy’s press attache Veronique Wagner, saying “we can confirm that we have sent a precautionary note to all our citizens in Pakistan advising them to temporarily leave the country if possible due to the recent protests that have caused graver security threats and put its citizens at risk.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri reassured that the government is taking necessary steps for maintaining law and order “enhanced measures for the maintenance of law and order and preventing any damage to life and property” he was quoted as saying.
Anti-French sentiment has been running high in Pakistan since the Emmanuel Macron led French government expressed support for a magazine’s right to republish blasphemous caricatures depicting Holy Prophet (PBUH).
