French urged to flee Pakistan riots
ISLAMABAD: French nationals and companies in Pakistan have been advised by their embassy to temporarily leave after violent anti-France protests paralysed parts of the country.
Anti-French sentiment has been simmering in Pakistan since the government of President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for a satirical magazine’s right to republish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad
On Thursday, the Pakistan government banned an extremist political party whose leader had called for a march on the capital to demand the expulsion of the French ambassador.
Saad Rizvi, leader of Tehreek-eLabbaik Pakistan, was detained hours after the call, bringing thousands of his supporters onto the streets in cities across the country. Two police officers died in clashes. Extra security personnel were deployed to the French embassy and shipping containers placed as fortifications around its outer wall.
“Our police and rangers are capable of handling the situation,” Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.
Still, Ludo Van Vooren, a French citizen living in Islamabad, said he was assessing the embassy’s advice. “We are a little shocked and reflecting on what to do,” he said.