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."

British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew. Photo courtesy Gov.uk
British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew. Photo courtesy Gov.uk

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 [the] 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 (BLA), which, he said, is a "listed terrorist organisation under the laws of Pakistan and other countries, including the United Kingdom."

Opinion

Editorial

Parliament’s place
Updated 11 Oct, 2026

Parliament’s place

In 2015, the parliament had decided to “maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis”.
Disturbing the peace
11 Oct, 2026

Disturbing the peace

THIS year’s Nobel Peace Prize is well-earned. The winner, South African jurist Dr Navi Pillay, has had an...
A voice in care
10 Oct, 2026

A voice in care

WORLD Mental Health Day this year carries a compelling message. The theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices,...
Midterm break
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

Midterm break

Both the US and Israel need to halt their destructive misadventures in the Middle East.
American barbarism
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

American barbarism

WITH the spectre of defeat in the upcoming midterm elections looming large over the Trump administration, the...