Punjab minister condemns UK-based death threats against Pakistani institutional head, demands immediate action

Lahore | By Farzana Chaudhry
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has strongly condemned death threats issued from the United Kingdom against the head of a Pakistani institution, describing the act as a blatant violation of international law and completely intolerable. She also criticized the spread of hatred and organized anti-Pakistan propaganda originating from abroad.
Azma Bokhari said the incidents of May 9 and November 26 are part of a continuous foreign-backed agenda aimed at destabilizing Pakistan and creating economic and political turmoil. She expressed serious concern over British soil being repeatedly used for anti-Pakistan activities, stressing that the UK enforces a zero-tolerance policy domestically, and the same standard must be applied to campaigns targeting Pakistan.
The minister noted that coordinated efforts via social media platforms and overseas accounts are being used to incite unrest and violence within Pakistan. She confirmed that the Government of Pakistan has formally raised the matter with British authorities, urging urgent intervention.
Azma Bokhari emphasized that a clear distinction must be drawn between legitimate political activity and terrorism, stating that politics of hatred, violence, and bloodshed will never be accepted. She demanded strict and immediate action from UK authorities to halt campaigns aimed at targeting Pakistan’s national institutions, inciting violence, and weakening the state.
Highlighting the global propagation of anti-Pakistan sentiment, the minister explained that provocative speeches are recorded abroad and amplified worldwide through social media brigades and YouTube channels. She expressed regret that British soil continues to serve as a platform for fueling such hatred, with clear and publicly available evidence.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, Azma Bokhari called for exemplary punishment for perpetrators and stricter oversight of networks promoting violence and threats against Pakistan. She warned that groups masquerading as political parties but acting like terrorist organizations will not be tolerated, and attacks on state institutions can never be justified as political activity.