*ISLAMABAD: Terming it ‘completely irresponsible’ reporting, the Foreign Office on Wednesday rejected reports by the Indian media, claiming detention of a few Pakistani nationals after blasts in Sri Lanka, ARY News reported.*
According to Foreign Office, it was completely irresponsible by a section of the Indian media to link detention of some Pakistanis in Sri Lanka with the recent events there.
The spokesperson clarified seven Pakistanis were recently detained by the law enforcement authorities in Sri Lanka on account of overstay on their visas. This information is shared by the officials in the Sri Lanka, the FO said.
“This is a purely consular matter and projecting it in any other manner is patently mischievous,” the spokesperson added.
He stated that such attempts by elements in the Indian media were reflective of a particular, though familiar, mindset bent on twisting facts to malign Pakistan on any pretext.
The spokesperson drew attention to the call of the Sri Lankan leadership to avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan had telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe to offer assistance to fight terrorism while condemning horrifying suicide attacks that have killed 359 people so far