Pakistan formally issued a diplomatic demarche, as Pakistan demarches UK over threats made against Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest held in Bradford.
The Foreign Office confirmed that the demarche was handed to the United Kingdom’s Acting Head of Mission in Islamabad, Matt Cannell, after disturbing video footage surfaced online.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the protest was registered through official diplomatic channels, reflecting Pakistan’s grave concern over threats issued from British soil.
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The protest followed a PTI-led demonstration outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford, where speakers allegedly used highly provocative and violent language against the army chief.
According to officials, a video uploaded from the “UKPTIOFFICIAL” social media account showed a woman openly threatening a car bomb attack against Field Marshal Munir.
The remarks reportedly referenced a historic plane blast that killed former military ruler General Zia ul Haq, intensifying the seriousness of the threat.
READ: Pakistan raises concern over threats to CDF Asim Munir from UK
The official PTI UK account was used to mobilise protesters, while demonstrators repeatedly issued death threats and objectionable statements during the gathering.
Pakistani authorities described the language used as explicit incitement to murder, going far beyond political speech or legitimate protest activity.
The government stressed that it had taken serious notice of threats emerging from British territory and warned against its misuse to destabilise Pakistan.
Officials urged the UK authorities to take strict legal action against those involved and ensure accountability under British law.
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The demarche was delivered after British High Commissioner Jane Marriott was unavailable, prompting the summoning of Deputy Head of Mission Matt Cannell instead.
Earlier, Pakistan shared the video footage and transcripts with UK authorities in Islamabad and London, highlighting unprecedented misuse of UK soil.
The official letter described the content as explicit calls for assassination, rejecting any suggestion that the statements were rhetorical or political in nature.