France&nbsp;has advised French citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, after violent clashes there this week.

Thousands of Pakistani Islamists had clashed with police earlier this week in protest against the arrest of their leader ahead of rallies denouncing French cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

For Muslims, depictions of the Prophet are blasphemous.

The diplomatic sources said that a message had been sent overnight to French citizens and companies following threats by hardline Islamist group Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) to target French interests.

The sources said the embassy sent a message to French residents in Pakistan recommending that French nationals leave the country and French companies shut down activities temporarily "due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan".

Relations between Paris and Islamabad have worsened since the end of last year after President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded by an 18-year-old man of Chechen origin for showing cartoons of the Prophet in a class on freedom of speech.

The images sparked anger and protests in the Muslim world, especially in Pakistan, and even saw a Pakistani minister forced to withdraw comments she made that Macron was treating Muslims like Nazis had treated Jews in World War Two.

Last year, TLP ended a similar protest against&nbsp;France&nbsp;only after the government signed a deal agreeing to endorse a boycott of French products and making a move in parliament to expel French ambassador. It had this week demanded the envoy be expelled.

Pakistan has said it would outlaw the group and the arrest of its leader this week sparked further protests against&nbsp;France.

"It's a serious situation and we know that in Pakistan things can escalate quickly," said one of the diplomatic sources.

Pakistan's embassy in Paris did not immediately respond for comment.

France has advised French citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, after violent clashes there this week.

France has advised French citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, after violent clashes there this week. Thousands of Pakistani Islamists had clashed with police earlier this week in protest against the arrest of their leader ahead of rallies denouncing French cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad. For Muslims, depictions of the Prophet are blasphemous. The diplomatic sources said that a message had been sent overnight to French citizens and companies following threats by hardline Islamist group Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) to target French interests. The sources said the embassy sent a message to French residents in Pakistan recommending that French nationals leave the country and French companies shut down activities temporarily "due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan". Relations between Paris and Islamabad have worsened since the end of last year after President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded by an 18-year-old man of Chechen origin for showing cartoons of the Prophet in a class on freedom of speech. The images sparked anger and protests in the Muslim world, especially in Pakistan, and even saw a Pakistani minister forced to withdraw comments she made that Macron was treating Muslims like Nazis had treated Jews in World War Two. Last year, TLP ended a similar protest against France only after the government signed a deal agreeing to endorse a boycott of French products and making a move in parliament to expel French ambassador. It had this week demanded the envoy be expelled. Pakistan has said it would outlaw the group and the arrest of its leader this week sparked further protests against France. "It's a serious situation and we know that in Pakistan things can escalate quickly," said one of the diplomatic sources. Pakistan's embassy in Paris did not immediately respond for comment.

France advises citizens to leave Pakistan after serious threats: Sources

Two demonstrators and a policeman were killed Tuesday in violent clashes between Islamists and police in Pakistan, hours after authorities arrested the head of an Islamist party in the eastern city of Lahore, a senior official and local media reported.

The policeman was killed in overnight clashes with the supporters of Saad Rizvi, the head of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan who was arrested on Monday, a senior police officer Ghulam Mohammad Dogar said. Ten policemen were also wounded in these clashes in the town of Shahadra near Lahore.

Two Islamists were reportedly killed in the eastern Punjab province. The violence began Monday after police arrested Rizvi for threatening protests if the government did not expel France's ambassador over depictions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

According to Dogar, the arrest was aimed at maintaining law and order. But Rizvi's detention quickly sparked violent protests by Islamists in cities around the country. The protesters blocked highways and roads in several cities.

The deadly clashes come two days after Rizvi in a statement asked the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to honor what he said was a commitment it made in February to his party to expel the French envoy before April 20 over the publication in France of depictions of Islam's Prophet.

However, the government has said it only committed to discussing the matter in Parliament.

The reaction from Rizvi's supporters against his arrest was so swift that police in the eastern city of Lahore could not clear a main highway and roads. Thousands of people were stranded in their vehicles.

Monday's clashes initially erupted in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province.

Rizvi's supporters later clashed with police in the southern port city of Karachi and they continued rallying on the outskirts of the capital Islamabad, disrupting traffic and inconveniencing residents.

Rizvi emerged as the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party in November after the sudden death of his father, Khadim Hussein Rizvi. His supporters have previously held violent rallies in Pakistan to pressure the government not to repeal the country's controversial blasphemy laws.

Rizvi's party wants the government to boycott French products and expel the French ambassador under an agreement signed by the government with Rizvi's party in February.

Tehreek-e-Labiak and other Islamist parties have denounced French President Emmanuel Macron since October last year, saying he tried to defend caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as freedom of expression.

Macron's comments came after a young Muslim beheaded a French school teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class.

The images had been republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to mark the opening of the trial over the deadly 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures. That enraged many Muslims in Pakistan and elsewhere who believed those depictions were blasphemous.

Rizvi's party also has a history of staging protests and sit-ins to pressure the government to accept its demands. In November 2017, Rizvi's followers staged a 21-day protest and sit-in after a reference to the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad was removed from the text of a government form.

Two demonstrators and a policeman were killed Tuesday in violent clashes between Islamists and police in Pakistan, hours after authorities arrested the head of an Islamist party in the eastern city of Lahore, a senior official and local media reported.

Two demonstrators and a policeman were killed Tuesday in violent clashes between Islamists and police in Pakistan, hours after authorities arrested the head of an Islamist party in the eastern city of Lahore, a senior official and local media reported. The policeman was killed in overnight clashes with the supporters of Saad Rizvi, the head of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan who was arrested on Monday, a senior police officer Ghulam Mohammad Dogar said. Ten policemen were also wounded in these clashes in the town of Shahadra near Lahore. Two Islamists were reportedly killed in the eastern Punjab province. The violence began Monday after police arrested Rizvi for threatening protests if the government did not expel France's ambassador over depictions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. According to Dogar, the arrest was aimed at maintaining law and order. But Rizvi's detention quickly sparked violent protests by Islamists in cities around the country. The protesters blocked highways and roads in several cities. The deadly clashes come two days after Rizvi in a statement asked the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to honor what he said was a commitment it made in February to his party to expel the French envoy before April 20 over the publication in France of depictions of Islam's Prophet. However, the government has said it only committed to discussing the matter in Parliament. The reaction from Rizvi's supporters against his arrest was so swift that police in the eastern city of Lahore could not clear a main highway and roads. Thousands of people were stranded in their vehicles. Monday's clashes initially erupted in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province. Rizvi's supporters later clashed with police in the southern port city of Karachi and they continued rallying on the outskirts of the capital Islamabad, disrupting traffic and inconveniencing residents. Rizvi emerged as the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan party in November after the sudden death of his father, Khadim Hussein Rizvi. His supporters have previously held violent rallies in Pakistan to pressure the government not to repeal the country's controversial blasphemy laws. Rizvi's party wants the government to boycott French products and expel the French ambassador under an agreement signed by the government with Rizvi's party in February. Tehreek-e-Labiak and other Islamist parties have denounced French President Emmanuel Macron since October last year, saying he tried to defend caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as freedom of expression. Macron's comments came after a young Muslim beheaded a French school teacher who had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class. The images had been republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to mark the opening of the trial over the deadly 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures. That enraged many Muslims in Pakistan and elsewhere who believed those depictions were blasphemous. Rizvi's party also has a history of staging protests and sit-ins to pressure the government to accept its demands. In November 2017, Rizvi's followers staged a 21-day protest and sit-in after a reference to the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad was removed from the text of a government form.

3 killed in Pakistan in clashes between police, Islamists

Pakistani Christians living in parts of Europe held a protest rally in Geneva to raise their voice against Islamic hardliners who are persecuting minorities in the name of blasphemy.

The protesters including women and children carried out a rally from Palais Wilson, the current headquarters of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Broken Chair, during the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

They demanded that the Pakistan government must abolish the 'dangerous' law misused by the state and non-state actors to target the minorities.

Frank John, a Pakistani Christian and Chairman of Drumchapel Asian Forum in NW Glasgow, said, "We are unhappy with the functioning of the government in Pakistan because the mindset of 'maulvis' towards Christians is immoral. Every day, atrocities are being committed against our children, especially girls, which is not acceptable. Our girls are being kidnapped by misusing PPC 295C and they are converted into Islam," He added.

"Every person in Pakistan is unhappy with Act 295C because we always remain in fear of its misuse. If we have an altercation with any person, they put us under PPC 295C. This is a dangerous law and needs to be abolished, " he said.

Christians in Pakistan have been facing systematic persecution as not only their churches were being targetted but also girls who are being kidnapped and forcibly converted into Islam.&nbsp;

Samuel Aziz, Head of Overseas Pakistani Christian Association in Germany said, "We are protesting here as we are not getting our rights in Pakistan because of fundamentalist forces."

He added, "We have a demand that this law (blasphemy) should be abolished. These incidents get exposed at international level. In the case of Asiya Bibi, we are thankful to the Supreme Court of Pakistan that she got justice because of the government's efforts. The government is not abolishing this law but is helping us to get justice. But, since there are fundamentalist forces, we are facing persecution."

Many members of European Parliamentarians and human rights activists also joined the protest by Pakistani Christians.&nbsp;

Dr Mario Silva, Executive Chairman of International Forum for Rights and Security said, "Pakistan systematically discriminates against minorities. Christians are particularly targetted by the blasphemy law. Christian persecution is a real threat to democracy and it's a real threat to human rights. It's something the world community needs to take a look at."

"I do believe what's happening is a slow genocide which will eventually eliminate all Christians from the country. Last, the government does something about the fundamentalism that spread into the system both in the education system, political system and social system in the country. It will never be able to fully functional democracy," He added.

"The state has a responsibility to protect its minorities rather destroying them. They have to go against the perpetrators of crimes against Christians. There are attacks on Christians, suicide bombings are taking place and the government is doing nothing to investigate the persecution of Christians in the country."

Criticising the blasphemy law, Dr Mario said, "Blasphemy law should in fact never be a part of any democratic system of government because blasphemy law is meant to target minorities. It was designed to target the Christian minority and also the Ahmadiyya community as well. These communities are suffering a lot because of the blasphemy law. Because the blasphemy law is there, it has led to intolerance. It has led to the growth of extremists in the country who continue to use this as a tool to harass, intimidate and jail minorities in the country."

Christians make up less than two per cent of the population in Pakistan. Their numbers are decreasing as many of them are migrating to other countries for their safety.

Pakistani Christians living in parts of Europe held a protest rally in Geneva to raise their voice against Islamic hardliners who are persecuting minorities in the name of blasphemy.

Pakistani Christians living in parts of Europe held a protest rally in Geneva to raise their voice against Islamic hardliners who are persecuting minorities in the name of blasphemy. The protesters including women and children carried out a rally from Palais Wilson, the current headquarters of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Broken Chair, during the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council. They demanded that the Pakistan government must abolish the 'dangerous' law misused by the state and non-state actors to target the minorities. Frank John, a Pakistani Christian and Chairman of Drumchapel Asian Forum in NW Glasgow, said, "We are unhappy with the functioning of the government in Pakistan because the mindset of 'maulvis' towards Christians is immoral. Every day, atrocities are being committed against our children, especially girls, which is not acceptable. Our girls are being kidnapped by misusing PPC 295C and they are converted into Islam," He added. "Every person in Pakistan is unhappy with Act 295C because we always remain in fear of its misuse. If we have an altercation with any person, they put us under PPC 295C. This is a dangerous law and needs to be abolished, " he said. Christians in Pakistan have been facing systematic persecution as not only their churches were being targetted but also girls who are being kidnapped and forcibly converted into Islam. Samuel Aziz, Head of Overseas Pakistani Christian Association in Germany said, "We are protesting here as we are not getting our rights in Pakistan because of fundamentalist forces." He added, "We have a demand that this law (blasphemy) should be abolished. These incidents get exposed at international level. In the case of Asiya Bibi, we are thankful to the Supreme Court of Pakistan that she got justice because of the government's efforts. The government is not abolishing this law but is helping us to get justice. But, since there are fundamentalist forces, we are facing persecution." Many members of European Parliamentarians and human rights activists also joined the protest by Pakistani Christians. Dr Mario Silva, Executive Chairman of International Forum for Rights and Security said, "Pakistan systematically discriminates against minorities. Christians are particularly targetted by the blasphemy law. Christian persecution is a real threat to democracy and it's a real threat to human rights. It's something the world community needs to take a look at." "I do believe what's happening is a slow genocide which will eventually eliminate all Christians from the country. Last, the government does something about the fundamentalism that spread into the system both in the education system, political system and social system in the country. It will never be able to fully functional democracy," He added. "The state has a responsibility to protect its minorities rather destroying them. They have to go against the perpetrators of crimes against Christians. There are attacks on Christians, suicide bombings are taking place and the government is doing nothing to investigate the persecution of Christians in the country." Criticising the blasphemy law, Dr Mario said, "Blasphemy law should in fact never be a part of any democratic system of government because blasphemy law is meant to target minorities. It was designed to target the Christian minority and also the Ahmadiyya community as well. These communities are suffering a lot because of the blasphemy law. Because the blasphemy law is there, it has led to intolerance. It has led to the growth of extremists in the country who continue to use this as a tool to harass, intimidate and jail minorities in the country." Christians make up less than two per cent of the population in Pakistan. Their numbers are decreasing as many of them are migrating to other countries for their safety.

Blasphemy laws being used to harass Christians in Pakistan: Activists

The Netherlands said Tuesday that its ambassador to Pakistan has faced "threats", reportedly from Islamists angry over anti-Islam tweets by the far-right politician Geert Wilders.

Wilders in August called off a planned Prophet Mohammed cartoon competition that stirred anger in Pakistan, but the MP has since posted several such images on Twitter.

"We are dealing with threats to the ambassador's address," a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.

"We take the security of the embassy very seriously, and that is also the subject of consultations between the Netherlands and Pakistan. For security reasons, I cannot make any further comment."

Pakistan's interior ministry last month wrote a secret memo on plans to "target" the Dutch ambassador by the hardline Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party (TLP), media from both countries reported.

The TLP, founded in 2015, led protests in August calling for Pakistan to sever diplomatic relations with The Netherlands over the Wilders cartoon contest.

"It has been reported that elements associated with Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) are planning to target (the) Dutch ambassador... to seek revenge for uploading of blasphemous caricatures by Geert Wilders, Dutch parliamentarian, on his personal Twitter account," the memo said.

The Pakistani interior ministry and Dutch embassy declined to comment.

The TLP denied making any threats.

"Attacking somebody is not a policy of Tehreek-e-Labaik. We are a peaceful movement," TLP spokesman Pir Ijaz Ashrafi told AFP.

However, he said the group "demand the Dutch government expel Wilders from their parliament and if they don't do so, the government of Pakistan should dismiss the Dutch ambassador from Pakistan."

More recently, the TLP has led demonstrations against a Pakistan court ruling saving Christian woman Asia Bibi from death row where she had been languishing on blasphemy charges.

Bibi's lawyer, Saif-ul-Malook, fled to The Netherlands at the weekend saying there had been threats to his life -- although on Monday he said the UN and EU had made him leave Pakistan.

Separately, a body representing 144 Turkish mosques in the Netherlands has asked Twitter to block Wilders's account for inciting hatred, it emerged on Monday.

The Netherlands said Tuesday that its ambassador to Pakistan has faced "threats", reportedly from Islamists angry over anti-Islam tweets by the far-right politician Geert Wilders.

The Netherlands said Tuesday that its ambassador to Pakistan has faced "threats", reportedly from Islamists angry over anti-Islam tweets by the far-right politician Geert Wilders. Wilders in August called off a planned Prophet Mohammed cartoon competition that stirred anger in Pakistan, but the MP has since posted several such images on Twitter. "We are dealing with threats to the ambassador's address," a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman told AFP. "We take the security of the embassy very seriously, and that is also the subject of consultations between the Netherlands and Pakistan. For security reasons, I cannot make any further comment." Pakistan's interior ministry last month wrote a secret memo on plans to "target" the Dutch ambassador by the hardline Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party (TLP), media from both countries reported. The TLP, founded in 2015, led protests in August calling for Pakistan to sever diplomatic relations with The Netherlands over the Wilders cartoon contest. "It has been reported that elements associated with Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) are planning to target (the) Dutch ambassador... to seek revenge for uploading of blasphemous caricatures by Geert Wilders, Dutch parliamentarian, on his personal Twitter account," the memo said. The Pakistani interior ministry and Dutch embassy declined to comment. The TLP denied making any threats. "Attacking somebody is not a policy of Tehreek-e-Labaik. We are a peaceful movement," TLP spokesman Pir Ijaz Ashrafi told AFP. However, he said the group "demand the Dutch government expel Wilders from their parliament and if they don't do so, the government of Pakistan should dismiss the Dutch ambassador from Pakistan." More recently, the TLP has led demonstrations against a Pakistan court ruling saving Christian woman Asia Bibi from death row where she had been languishing on blasphemy charges. Bibi's lawyer, Saif-ul-Malook, fled to The Netherlands at the weekend saying there had been threats to his life -- although on Monday he said the UN and EU had made him leave Pakistan. Separately, a body representing 144 Turkish mosques in the Netherlands has asked Twitter to block Wilders's account for inciting hatred, it emerged on Monday.

'Threats' to Dutch envoy in Pakistan over Wilders tweets