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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 [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."
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Comments (43) Closed
Nov 03, 2017 05:39pm
Truth finally prevails
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Nov 03, 2017 06:01pm
Very potent step. Will be very effective.
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Nov 03, 2017 06:30pm
Surely seeking freedom or independence is a valid political aim in any free society and hence their is nothing any democracy can do about displaying slogans - it is free speech - e.g. free Scotland. The only issue is whether people promote violence as a means to get there. It is a little childish to summon the British HC - in fact the Pakistan government is further promoting the slogan by highlighting it. Would it not be a good idea for 10 years for Pakistan to concentrate on the development of Pakistan only and not look elsewhere - surely there is enough to do?
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Nov 03, 2017 06:42pm
good response by Pakistan clear message given !
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Nov 03, 2017 07:06pm
@Voice of Reason
I am sure everyone agrees that war and chaos is a much more damaging position to be in than living in a totalitarian society.
You can't ignore such divisive propaganda by enemies of the country. There is nothing wrong with tackling such ideas because they are intended to bring internal conflict and chaos. I am sure that wouldn't be very helpful towards our development either.
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Nov 03, 2017 07:17pm
Now I am really worried.
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Nov 03, 2017 07:19pm
But majority of Taxi drivers in Britons are Pakistanis, How they involve such activities
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Nov 03, 2017 07:45pm
@Sadiq - for your information, the majority of official London taxi drivers are jews. Only private taxi drivers are Asians.
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Nov 03, 2017 07:53pm
Sadiq.... most taxi drivers in Britain are actually white. Black cab drivers in London are also mainly white although there are a number of other nationalities including Pakistanis and Indians. In towns and cities where there are significant Pakistanis e.g. Bhirmingham, Luton etc then yes there tend to be more Pakistani drivers.
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Nov 03, 2017 08:05pm
@Sadiq I belong to Sindh, Karachi and disagree with your view.
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Nov 03, 2017 10:08pm
People are discussing taxi drivers...discuss the real issue..balochistan wants freedom...in the search of Azadi of Kashmir maybe you ignoring other parts of the mainland and in turn all this is happening
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Nov 03, 2017 10:48pm
@Lost cause "Truth finally prevails"
What truth? Like the truth of Kashmiri freedom has prevailed?
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Nov 04, 2017 12:51am
Beside all what our Pakistanis are doing in England ????
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Nov 04, 2017 02:00am
@Voice of Reason All eyes look at us so we forcibly have to look back at them.
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Nov 04, 2017 02:52am
@Sadiq as majority of taxi drivers in New York are Pakistanis.
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Nov 04, 2017 03:16am
@Sadiq majority of Indians and Bengolees are also taxi drivers
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Nov 04, 2017 04:04am
How can government allow such types of acts , why is everyone letting our beloved country disintegrate .
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Nov 04, 2017 04:43am
The Raj continues?????
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Nov 04, 2017 04:45am
Gift of PmlN
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Nov 04, 2017 07:53am
You may not believe but they are part of the conspiracy equation!
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Nov 04, 2017 08:23am
It might be better to check the source which is setting up this and discuss with them directly. British government will have no control on labels on private vehicles
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Nov 04, 2017 08:44am
@Sadiq - majority of taxi drivers are white British but there is sizeable Pakistanis working as Minicab drivers. Difference is that you can advertise on taxis but not minicabs.
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Nov 04, 2017 09:17am
@Kkl and your point is ?
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Nov 04, 2017 11:13am
Find out who fund for this.
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Nov 04, 2017 11:17am
@Mudasser Nobody is listening
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Nov 04, 2017 03:21pm
@Mudasser NO, definitely a very BAD move. There was no need to get over excited on this insignificant sloganeering. Keeping quiet and letting it pass would have been a superiorly of handling it.
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Nov 05, 2017 12:32am
@Roshan Ali a society or a country disintegrates only when there is the rule of the Gun instead of the rule of law; when the rights of the weak, the disadvantaged, the minority, are trampled. When the prevailing system rubbishes the demands of equity, justice & fairplay and allows no hope to the people in a democratic fashion.Then the inevitable happens.
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Nov 05, 2017 04:09am
The tactic seems to work . Few slogans and the publicity is endless counting on senseless overreaction to counter . It seems rather easy to make the foreign office sweat .
Balochistan keeps growing as a problem child and no one cares about Kashmir . My fear is that our strategy may lead to disintegration without achieving anything on Kashmir . The Indians would also be willing to grant Kashmir autonomy if Pakistan is no longer a state . The Kashmiris may also root for freedom of Balochistan as that strengthens their case . We are digging a big hole .
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Nov 05, 2017 07:59am
@Sadiq Taxi drivers just drive the vehicle they are allocated. If they refused they would be out of a job.
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Nov 05, 2017 03:20pm
@Voice of Reason - "Surely seeking freedom or independence is a valid political aim in any free society..."
Definitely! Let's start with Kashmir, a disputed part from day one. The biggest 'democracy' shouldn't have any qualms about that then!
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Nov 05, 2017 03:53pm
Britain is country known to create unrest in its formal colonies. It also always gave refuge (and continues to do so) to corrupt politicians of its formal colonies. (Current example is Nawaz Sharif). This is their long-term policy.
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Nov 05, 2017 06:29pm
I am going to google it to read what exactly is written on those taxis and then forward to all my friends.
Awareness is a necessary step.
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Nov 05, 2017 09:20pm
@Jawad : Well said. But who is listening?
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Nov 05, 2017 11:44pm
Self Reflections are not always pretty.
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Nov 06, 2017 12:25am
No doubt such actions should be handled through diplomatic means. But we must, and the saner educated class must join voices to demand justice and equality for the genuine grievances of Balochistan, and especially the Hazaras suffering at the hands of terrorists in that city.
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Nov 06, 2017 12:26am
Pakistanis are well educated Doctors and Lawyers (and a few are top businessman in Britain) .... it is the Indians and Bangladeshis who are in such petty jobs. They are also work as restaurant boys! These are the people who are trying to hatch the conspiracy and may malign with such posters in the restaurant premises in the UK. Need we guess which agency is providing the monetary support? I hope my brothers understand this and should unite to protest against such anti-Pakistan design. Pakistan Zindabad.
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Nov 06, 2017 12:41am
These western countries who are so worried about the independence of Balochistan, they are completely silent over brutal handling of the voice of independence of Catalonia from Spain that was even unanimously approved from their parliament.
Not to talk about Northern Ireland, Scotland, Folkland Islands and so many other colonies which the British have been suppressing with power.
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Nov 06, 2017 04:18am
@Harmony-1© What is new that you want to start now? Your leaders have tried all but nothing works.
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Nov 06, 2017 09:31am
@Voice of Reason By the same token Modi should not have got his knickers in a twist whr Congress talked about azadi of Kashmir
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Nov 06, 2017 10:23am
UK has always been notorious for such acts...Don't forget that if you have to hide after crime in your country, you can easily shelter in UK, if you need to hide your assets , you can form offshore company in UK....I think Pakistan should also start maligning Queen and Royal family on the roads of Pakistan in the name of free speech....this will certainly help UK understand the Pakistan issue.
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Nov 06, 2017 12:24pm
@Mudasser What about free kashmir?? You can point the differences and similarities. Take up the challenge?
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Nov 06, 2017 12:25pm
What about Kashmir?? What about Kashmir ??? What about Kashmir??? Please point out the differences and similarities...are you brave enough?
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Nov 06, 2017 01:34pm
so what did the brits says...will they stop it or not ?
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