Pakistan has suspended all social media platforms on Friday. It comes in the fears of the radical Islamist group using technologies for the violent protests against the Prophet Muhammad’s case in France last year.
TLP Followers Blocks The Roads and Streets
As per the latest reports, the followers of the far-right Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) has blocked the roads and streets for the deadly protests that started on Monday this week. The protestors are demanding the government to fulfil the promise of expelling the French Ambassador by April 20, 2021.
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So far, at least five including two police personnel have been killed during the protests. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok have been blocked so the protestors cannot use them to communicate during the Friday prayers congregations.
Reports suggest that political parites, Islamist groups and militant organisations rely heavily on social media platoorms to communicate with each other.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan government banned an extremist political party whose leader demanded the government for the expulsion of the French ambassador in Pakistan.
Saad Rizvi, the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was later detained for hours after he made his demands. He was accused of bring thousands of his supporters onto the streets across the country and blocking the roads and streets.
France Asks Citizens To Leave Pakistan
The latest report suggests that the French embassy in Pakistan on Thursday asked the French nationals and companies to leave the country temporarily. This comes after some of the anti-France protests turned violent and have paralyzed large parts of the country.
The embassy said in an email that the departures will be carried by the currently functioning commercial airlines.
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Anti-French sentiment has been amongst the Pakistan nationals for months now. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support towards a magazine that republished cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed. However, the depiction was considered offensive by many Muslims.
