The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has distanced itself from threats made against Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir during a party protest held in the United Kingdom.

The demonstration outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford, during which threatening remarks were made against Pakistan’s military leadership, has already drawn diplomatic attention.

Following a formal demarche issued by Pakistan to the British authorities, the United Kingdom has requested evidence from the Pakistani government related to the incident so the matter can be examined under British law.

After a speech by a woman during the protest came to light, the PTI announced that it had no connection with her remarks.

PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said the woman who addressed the gathering was not a party office-bearer and that her language and views did not reflect PTI’s position or political ideology.

He added that PTI, as a matter of principle, opposes violence, incitement, hate speech and abusive or indecent language, and considers such conduct to be against party policy.

It may be recalled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted strongly to the incident, summoning British Deputy Head of Mission Matt Kennell to the Foreign Office on Friday night and handing over a protest note.

According to sources, the demarche recorded Pakistan’s strong protest over the raising of threatening slogans against the country’s senior military leadership on British soil.