Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday expressed regret over the incident faced by German Ambassador Alfred Grannas during an event in Lahore.

Last week, the German envoy was heckled and booed by pro-Palestine protestors over Germany’s complicity in Israel’s genocide against the people of Gaza.

In the footage, it could be seen that the activist shouted, “Why your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of Palestinians,” addressing the German envoy.

However, Ambassador Grannas, who was visibly taken aback, began shouting while asking the protesters not to shout. He also gestured at the students while waving his left hand in the air, asking them to “go out”.

Mumtaz also rejected allegations of former advisor to Prime Minister Shehzad Akbar’s claims that he was attacked by the state of Pakistan.

“We categorically reject the allegations made by Shahzad Akbar against the state of Pakistan, its institutions and agencies. These claims are baseless and politically motivated. As we have said in the past safety and security of Pakistani nationals, wherever they are, are a matter of priority for Pakistan,” said the FO spokesperson during her weekly press briefing.

She reiterated that Pakistan does not have a policy of targeting citizens abroad. Baloch said several dissidents are living in foreign countries but Pakistan has never engaged against them.

Even though, “Some of them have (even) maintained links with terrorist entities inside Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.

On April 29, Akbar served a copy of his legal action to the Pakistan High Commission in London. It names several Pakistan government officials as responsible for the attack.

Akbar had initiated legal action against the Pakistani government over an acid attack in 2023 that left him “scarred for life”.