Days after “Free Balochistan” posters appeared on local transport services in Geneva, posters demanding freedom for Jammu and Kashmir and Indian states Tripura, Nagaland, and Manipur have appeared on metro buses and trams in the Swiss city.
The 36th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is underway in Geneva.
Banners in Switzerland calling for the freedom of Tripura Nagaland Manipur & Kashmir on metro busses & trams at the 36th session of UNHRC pic.twitter.com/v4S80VTkTA
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) September 25, 2017
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Permanent Ambassador to the UN Farrukh Amil had registered a written protest with the Swiss authorities after “Free Balochistan” posters cropped up in the area around Rue de Ferney of Grand Saconnex in Geneva.
In his letter, the Pakistani diplomat demanded that the Swiss authorities take action against the anti-Pakistan posters.
Ambassador-designate of Switzerland, Thomas Kelly, was also summoned to the Foreign Office (FO) by Additional Secretary (Europe) Zaheer A. Janjua to lodge a protest against the display of “anti-Pakistan posters and an insidious paid campaign against Pakistan”, an FO handout read.
On Sept 21, the Senate agreed to suspend till further notice the workings of a Pak-Switzerland Friendship Group in reaction to the appearance of “Free Balochistan” posters in Geneva.
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani claimed that the posters were an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and demanded to know from Law Minister Zahid Hamid why the posters continue to be displayed in Switzerland even though Pakistan had summoned the Swiss ambassador and recorded its protest.
“According to the United Nations’ Charter, no country can allow its soil to be used against another state,” Rabbani had stated.
Senators had insisted on expelling the Swiss ambassador from the country, echoing Rabbani’s demand from a day earlier.