French nationals in Pakistan defy their embassy’s call to leave after Islamist riots

The embassy announcement came after protests orchestrated by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. The group’s leader previously demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador

There have been several anti-France rallies since President Emmanuel Macron defended the right of Charlie Hebdo magazine to republish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad

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Supporters of Islamic political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. Photo: EPA

Published: 3:01pm, 17 Apr 2021Updated: 3:01pm, 17 Apr 2021

The French community in Pakistan is torn between disbelief, fear and annoyance in reaction to their embassy’s call for them to leave the country after Francophobic rioting this week by an extremist Islamic party.

Most, it seems, have decided to stay put.

In a terse three-line email, accompanied by the words “urgent”, the embassy in Islamabad on Thursday recommended its nationals and French companies temporarily leave Pakistan, because of “serious threats”.

The email, which did not specify the nature of the risks, caused shock and consternation among the few hundred-strong French community.

Jean-Michel Quarantotti, who has taught French at the American school in Islamabad for three years, was first alerted to the embassy advisory by a student.

“I won’t hide from you that at first I felt a little bit of fear, panic,” he said. “It’s not my first foreign country – I did a lot before arriving in Pakistan – but I was really shocked. I didn’t expect to go through this.”