Harassment of guests at Indian High Commission's Iftar party: New Delhi to raise matter with Islamabad

India will be raising the matter regarding the harassment of guests invited at the Iftar organised by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, top government sources have confirmed to WION.

A number of guests who were invited by the Indian Mission at the Iftar at Islamabad's Serena hotel had to face considerable hardship as Pakistani security forces stopped them from attending the event. Some were physically manhandled, while others were simply told that the Iftar was cancelled. 

Overall the turnout was low at the Indian Mission's Iftar, as many guests were forced to turn back by Pakistani security agencies. This is ironical in a pious Muslim country like Pakistan, which knows the significance of breaking the fast during Ramazan. 

The Press Secretary of the former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Farhatullah Babar, who was invited at the Iftar, took to twitter and spoke about the harassment meted out.

Came to Serena for iftar hosted by Indian HC. Hotel seems barricaded. Told that iftar cancelled. When insisted, I was told to use other gate. Other gate also closed and told to go back to front gate again. What’s going on, something fishy.

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) June 1, 2019

A Pakistani journalist Mehreen Zahra-Malik who was there to pick someone also tweeted about the incident.

Unprecedented level of harassment at @serena_hotels Islamabad. #India embassy iftaar happening & police & anti terrorism force misbehaving with anyone trying into get in the hotel. Got screamed at, my driver abused. Sorry, not being an entitled prick. This was genuine harassment

— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) June 1, 2019

WION's correspondent Anas Mallick who was at the Iftar also confirmed that he had to face a lot of trouble while reaching the venue. Even before the Iftar, many invitees received calls asking them not to go to the event.

The Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, speaking at the event, said, "I would apologise to all our friends who were subject to extra scrutiny."

The 1992 Code of Conduct for Treatment of Diplomatic/Consular Personnel in India and Pakistan says the safety and security of the premises of the diplomatic personnel and their families shall be respected and protected.

However, the harassment of Indian diplomats has been a norm in Islamabad for months now. From disconnecting electricity to being aggressively followed has been reported, with India sending a number of note verbale asking the Pakistani Foreign Ministry to investigate the incidents.