ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: The government on Friday lodged a strong protest with India over the “ridiculous and baseless” allegation against its High Commissioner in New Delhi and called for an end to the systematic campaign of dis-information against Islamabad.

“The government of Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with the Indian government over the ridiculous and baseless allegation made by Indian authorities accusing Pakistan’s Acting High Commissioner Jalil Abbas Jilani of providing money to the representatives of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference,” a foreign office spokesman said in a statement.

The Indian acting high commissioner in Islamabad was called on Friday to the foreign office and a protest was lodged in this regard.

He was also conveyed grave concern over the ongoing campaign of vilification against Pakistan and officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

The spokesman said the campaign was a part of a strategy by the BJP government to mislead the Indian public opinion to whip up anti-Pakistan hysteria for electoral gains.

He said the authorities in New Delhi had framed APHC representatives to discredit the freedom movement in occupied Kashmir, as well as to find an excuse for yet another crackdown on the APHC leadership as part of its brutal suppression of Pakistan calls upon India to put an end to its highly provocative statements and measures which continue to vitiate the environment between the two countries, he said.

Pakistan, he said, wishes to remind India of its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as well as the Bilateral code of conduct concluded by the two countries in 1992.

The Indian government must discharge the obligations it has assumed under the two agreements to ensure the safety and privileges of officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, he added.—APP