Pakistan military threatening lives of dissidents living in United Kingdom: Report

Pakistani exiles living in London who have been criticising country’s powerful military have been warned that ir lives are in danger. Pakistani dissidents, including rights activists, journalists and members of mirity groups, have been warned by intelligence ncies across Europe, news ncy ANI cited Observer report. report comes a month after local media h reported that a man from east London was charged with conspiring to murder an exiled Pakistani blogger and political activist in Nerlands.

Pakistani exiles living in London feel threatened 

British security sources have raised concern that Pakistan might be prepared to target individuals residing in United Kingdom, ANI cited Observer report. Mark Lyall Grant, former UK high commissioner to Pakistan has asserted that if figures from Pakistani military h threatened exiles in UK n this would be taken very seriously by UK government. Lyall Grant, who is UK's former national security viser stated that "If re is illegal pressure, in particular on journalists in UK, n I would expect law enforcement ncies and British government to take tice of that and to make an appropriate legal and/or diplomatic response."

Furrmore, Grant ted that if any evidence shows that officers from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were intimidating people living in UK would t be igred. Grant furr ded that if British nationals or residents in UK who are acting lawfully are being "harassed or threatened by ISI, or anyone else, n British government would certainly take an interest". Since Imran Khan came to power in Pakistan, civil rights groups re have documented erosion of press freedom with rising violent attacks on journalists, ANI cited Observer report.

Pakistan w seems to be moving from suppressing criticism within its borders to targeting its critics based in foreign countries. prominent journalists who have received death threats or feel threatened living in UK include Ayesha Siddiqa who is a Pakistani political scientist and commentator based in London and Gul Bukhari, a British-Pakistani YouTuber and columnist, ANI cited Observer report. Last year, a leaked Pakistani government memo accused a number of Pakistani journalists based in Europe and US of producing “anti-state content” for foreign media under pseudonyms.

IM: AP

(With Inputs from ANI)