Pakistan rejects ‘baseless allegations’ of crackdown on overseas dissidents

Unsubstantiated allegations appeared to be part of blatant ongoing misinformation campaign against Pakistan, says FO

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on Tuesday categorically rejected the unsubstantiated media reports alleging Pakistan cracking down on overseas dissidents, saying the country as a parliamentary democracy protected rights of its national living anywhere in the world.

A report published in The Guardian had claimed that exiled Pakistanis who were critical of the country’s security establishment had been warned by the UK authorities “that they will be targeted”.

“Pakistan, a strong UK ally — particularly on intelligence issues — might be prepared to target individuals on British soil,” the story alleged.

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In response to media queries regarding baseless allegations, the FO spokesperson today said, “There is no question of any threat being made to any national of any state including Pakistan’s own nationals living anywhere on any pretext whatsoever”.

The FO spokesperson said the unsubstantiated allegations appeared to be part of the rather blatant ongoing misinformation campaign against Pakistan to malign the country and its state institutions.

“Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy with a vibrant civil society, free media and independent judiciary, which remains fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights for all its citizens without discrimination,” he said.

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He expressed the country’s strong commitment to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which he said, was demonstrated by presence of scores of vibrant media channels and newspapers in the country.

“Provision of a platform for peddling of unsubstantiated and false narratives against Pakistan by any news outlet is indeed regrettable,” he said.