Imran rules out severing ties with France after TLP protests

PM says during his televised address to nation that expelling French envoy will badly damage Pakistan’s economy and won’t end Islamophobia; ‘unfortunate that political, religious parties misuse Islam’

- Tariq Butt

ISLAMABAD

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that he and the protesting proscribed Tehrik-eLabbaik Pakistan (TLP) have the same objectives that there was no blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) but their methods were different.

“Severing ties with France will damage Pakistan’s relations with European Union (EU) which will also damage our economy and exports,” he said in his address to the nation in which he discussed the prevailing situation amid violent protests held by the banned TLP across Pakistan.

“Ater much difficulties, the country’s economy is reviving, the rupee is stabilising, inflation in coming down, if we sever ties with France it will mean that our ties with the EU will be severed and doing so will hurt Pakistan’s textile industry as most of our textile products exported to European countries,” the prime minister said.

He said he decided to address the nation due to the “regrettable” incidents that took place in the country over the last week, referring to violence perpetrated by activists of the recently proscribed TLP after their leader Saad Rizvi’s arrest and the ensuing government crackdown.