ISLAMABAD: The diplomatic protection unit of the Metropolitan Police in London is trying to address the security concerns of people working at the Pakistan High Commission after a violent protest took place outside the facility last month, local media reported on Wednesday.
The Pakistani diplomatic mission in London was vandalized by Afghan protestors on May 23 who threw water bottles and stones at the building.
According to media reports, the Afghan protestors were angry with the ongoing peace process in their country and shouted anti-Pakistan slogans during the demonstration.
Some of them also gathered outside the Qatar embassy but remained peaceful over there.
"We are in touch with the embassy and addressing their concerns directly," a police spokesperson told Geo News in London. "We would not discuss matters of operational security with those outside of the diplomatic mission."
Geo News reported that the Pakistan High Commission had "shared video footage of the damage with the UK authorities, requesting security arrangements similar to the ones granted to the Israeli and Indian embassies in London."
It also quoted an unknown UK government spokesperson as saying that the security of the Pakistani diplomatic mission was of "paramount importance" to the UK authorities.
UK authorities say security of Pakistan's diplomatic mission of 'paramount importance'
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UK authorities say security of Pakistan's diplomatic mission of 'paramount importance'
- The Pakistan High Commission in London came under attack by Afghan protestors last month who were angry with the ongoing peace process in their country
- Reports indicate Pakistani diplomats have requested the same security arrangements that are made to protect the Israeli and Indian embassies in London
Vaughan calls for probe into reports Pakistan stars sidelined from Hundred
- The Hundred is an English 100-ball-per-side franchise cricket competition with eight teams
- BBC says Indian-owned teams may avoid selecting Pakistani players at next month’s auction
LONDON: Michael Vaughan has urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to “act fast” on reports that Pakistani players will be overlooked by Indian-owned teams in the domestic Hundred competition.
Longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan have led to the border rivals only playing each other in international cricket events, although their recent Colombo showdown at the ongoing T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka only went ahead after Pakistan called off a threatened boycott.
It has been claimed that politics has also led to an effective ban on Pakistani players participating in the Indian Premier League, world cricket’s most lucrative T20 franchise competition.
And with several IPL owners now owning teams in several different countries, opportunities for Pakistani cricketers to participate in various leagues are in danger of being reduced further.
The BBC has now reported that the issue could be a factor during next month’s player auction for English cricket’s Hundred, a 100 balls-per-side competition featuring eight franchises rather than the traditional 18 first-class counties.
Players will go under the hammer in London on March 11-12, with the BBC reporting that the four Indian-affiliated Hundred teams — Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds will deliberately avoid selecting players from Pakistan.
More than 50 Pakistani cricketers have registered their availability, with four other teams involved in the bidding.
The ECB have been unable to substantiate the BBC allegations, but former England captain Vaughan has called for the governing body to investigate the issue thoroughly.
Vaughan, referencing the ECB’s stated aim of cricket becoming the most inclusive sport in the country, posted on Friday on X: “The ECB need to act fast on this... they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen... the most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.”
An ECB spokesman said: “The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.
“Almost 1,000 cricketers from 18 nations have registered for The Hundred auction, with representation on the longlist of over 50 players respectively from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies.”
Only two Pakistan internationals — Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim — — appeared in last year’s Hundred, the final edition before new investors became involved.
