Pakistan condemns Frankfurt consulate trespassers, demands action

The Pakistani government on Sunday condemned the theft of a flag at its consulate in Frankfurt by “a gang of extremists” and demanded German authorities take action against those responsible.

The offence took place on Saturday when a large crowed carrying Afghanistan’s flag forcibly entered the grounds of the Pakistani consulate.

Video circulating on social media of the chaotic scene showed men climbing up a pole to remove the Pakistani flag. They can also be seen pelting the consulate with stones.

German police said the incident occurred during a demonstration outside the consulate involving some 400 people. About five to 10 people climbed over the fence of the diplomatic mission.

The police said they removed several people from the premises and broke up the demonstration.

The demonstrators had accused the Pakistan military and intelligence services of “killing critics and political opponents.”

The Pakistani government expressed its outrage on Sunday.

“Pakistan strongly condemns yesterday’s attack by a gang of extremists on its consulate in Frankfurt, Germany and the failure of the German authorities to protect the sanctity and security of the premises of its consular mission,” the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad said in a statement.

“We are conveying our strong protest to the German government,” the statement added.

The Foreign Ministry asked the German government to take immediate measures and fulfil its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

“We also urge the German authorities to take immediate measures to arrest and prosecute those involved in yesterday’s incident and hold to account those responsible for the lapses in security,” the Foreign Ministry said, without naming particular individuals or groups who may have been involved in the incident.

Frankfurt police said the State Security division was investigating the incident.