Islamabad: The Netherlands embassy in the Pakistani capital has temporarily shifted to a five-star hotel due to fears of a backlash over an anti-Quran film made by a Dutch lawmaker.
A spokesman for the embassy described the shifting of the embassy from its current premises in the posh Margalla Road residential area to Serena Hotel as a "temporary arrangement" that had been made as a precautionary measure.
There have been protests across Pakistan against Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders film "Fitna". Pakistan's National Assembly or lower house of Parliament passed a resolution this week denouncing the film, describing it as "an offensive and derogatory documentary on Islam". A message on the Netherlands embassy's website said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances the Royal Netherlands embassy is being temporarily relocated to the Serena Hotel, Islamabad."
"The public should be aware that the embassy will not be fully operational until Monday, April 21, 2008. Also consular and visa services will be limited." Sources said the Dutch embassy was expected to move back to its original premises once the controversy over the film died down. They pointed out that it would have been easy for protesters to march to the residential area where the Netherlands embassy was located.
Embassies of most Western countries are located within the high-security Diplomatic Enclave. A standing committee of the Senate or upper house of Parliament recently recommended that all missions located in residential areas of Islamabad should be shifted within the enclave for security reasons.
