ISLAMABAD – A Pakistani Islamist party today called off an anti-France demonstration on its third day, after securing the release of protesters arrested in clashes with police.
The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, which led the protests, said it called off the demonstration after late-night talks with the government, claiming officials had agreed to kick out the French ambassador and impose an official boycott of French products.
But a senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the “government has no intention of cutting diplomatic ties with any country”.
He added that the situation had been “handled accordingly” to ensure the protesters left peacefully, while the government released a statement ordering the release of all activists arrested over the past three days.
The French embassy did not respond to requests for comment. – AFP, November 17, 2020
