France has directed its Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Marc Barety, to servein Islamabad for an indefinite period of time. According to a report by TheNewslink,the French ambassador completed his 3-year residence in Pakistan lastSeptember.——————————

The report quoted the diplomatic sources, who said that Dr. Marc Baretywould continue his diplomatic assignments as per regulations of the Frenchgovernment until a suitable replacement is decided.

Coincidently, Pakistan has yet to name an ambassador to France. Back inJuly, the previous Ambassador to France, Moinul Haq, was transferred toBeijing as an Ambassador to China, replacing Ms. Naghmana Hashmi.

In October, Prime Minister Imran Khan heavily criticized the FrenchPresident’s stance on what he labeled ‘encouragement of Islamophobia.’ Khanopenly condemned Macron for ‘deliberately provoking Muslims’, including hiscitizens.

Meanwhile, a series of large-scale protests swept the country at the time,with prominent Islamic leaders from JUI staging mass processions acrossPakistan, calling for a boycott of French products. The late leader of TLP,Khadim Hussain Rizvi, also organized a big protest in Faizabad, Islamabad,demanding the expulsion of sitting French Ambassador Dr. Marc Barety.