French embassy urges all its citizens in Pakistan to leave the country temporarily amid violent anti-French protests across the country.
“Due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan, French nationals and French companies are advised to temporarily leave the country,” the embassy said in an email to French citizens.
The move came a day after the Pakistani interior ministry said it would outlaw the Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).
Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the nation was “in favour of protecting the Prophet’s honour” but that the TLP’s demands “could have portrayed Pakistan as a radical nation worldwide”.
On Wednesday, the Pakistani government moved to ban the TLP, the leader of the hard-line political party Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested by the Pakistani Government.
Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon at the crowds.
Two police officers died this week in clashes with protesters.
Policemen and protesters were wounded in clashes.
