UK High Commission Says Law Enforcement Independent After Pakistan’s Demarche Over Bradford Protest
ISLAMABAD:
The British High Commission has formally replied to Pakistan’s diplomatic demarche concerning a protest staged outside the Pakistan Consulate in Bradford, clarifying that policing and prosecution in the United Kingdom operate independently of the government.
In a statement issued on the matter, a spokesperson for the High Commission said that any alleged criminal activity must be backed by verifiable evidence and shared through established police cooperation channels. The spokesperson added that material submitted by any foreign government is reviewed strictly under British law.
“If any content or activity is found to be unlawful, law enforcement agencies may initiate criminal proceedings in accordance with legal procedures,” the spokesperson said, stressing that each case is assessed on its individual merits.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued the demarche after a demonstration in Bradford was allegedly organised through an official overseas account of a Pakistani political party. During the protest, participants reportedly used inflammatory language against the country’s Chief of Defence Forces and issued threats, including references to a car bomb attack.
Islamabad expressed serious concern over what it described as threats emerging from British territory and urged UK authorities to ensure that their soil is not used for activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan or inciting violence.
The development highlights ongoing diplomatic sensitivities between Pakistan and the United Kingdom regarding overseas political activism, particularly when such activities cross legal boundaries or raise security concerns.
