France advises citizens to leave Pakistan

Dunya News

France advises citizens to leave Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The French embassy in Pakistan on Thursday advised all French nationals and companies to temporarily leave the country, after violent protests paralysed large parts of the country. However, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has said that there is no threat to French citizens in Pakistan.

"Due to the serious threats, French nationals and French companies are advised to temporarily leave the country," the embassy said in a message to French citizens.

"The departures will be carried out by existing commercial airlines."

The move came a day after the Pakistani interior ministry said it would outlaw the Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline Islamist group responsible for recent protests across the country.

The TLP has been demanding that the Pakistani government expel the French ambassador and endorse a boycott of French products.

Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the notification to ban the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) will be issued today (Thursday), and another summary for the dissolution of the party will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that the summary had been approved by the federal cabinet and the Order of Proscription of TLP would be issued soon.