ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has disassociated itself from a contentious speech made by a woman at a protest in the United Kingdom. This comes as Islamabad engages diplomatically with British authorities over slogans reportedly targeting Pakistan’s national institutions.
The situation has stirred discussions on freedom of speech, incitement, and adherence to international legal standards, highlighting a complex intersection of diplomacy and law.
PTI has firmly clarified that it has no affiliation with the individual who delivered the speech during the protest in the UK. A party spokesperson emphasized that the woman is not an official representative of PTI and that her statements, language, and approach are not aligned with the party’s philosophy or political stance.
The spokesperson reiterated that the party stands against violence, provocation, hate speech, and inappropriate language. PTI is committed to a peaceful, constitutional, and democratic political movement, distancing itself from any individuals or groups violating these values.
The controversy surrounding PTI’s activities in the UK intensified after a provocative video was posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of PTI UK. The footage displays protesters chanting slogans against Pakistan’s national institutions on British soil, drawing criticism from political figures and legal experts alike.
Pakistan has officially communicated its concerns to British authorities, urging them to address the matter seriously. The Foreign Office has presented a verbal démarche to the acting British high commissioner, requesting swift action against those involved in targeting state institutions through inflammatory acts.
In response, a spokesperson from the British High Commission in Islamabad confirmed that the matter is under review in light of Pakistan’s démarche. The spokesperson pointed out that law enforcement agencies in the UK operate autonomously and advised Pakistan to provide any relevant evidence of criminal activity to Britain’s Police Liaison Officer.
British authorities have assured that law enforcement will scrutinize any materials that could constitute violations of UK laws. If deemed unlawful, such as under clauses of the UK Counter-Terrorism Act addressing incitement and provocation as severe offenses, legal investigations may proceed.
Pakistani representatives underline that this issue transcends political disagreements, categorizing it under incitement to violence and potential acts of terrorism. They have called on the UK to ensure its territory is not used as a platform for activities aimed at destabilizing other nations.
The incident, they argue, represents a critical challenge to Britain’s commitment to upholding international law and preventing actions that promote global unrest.
