ISLAMABAD: The foreign office on Monday made it clear that permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was mandatory before inviting any foreign diplomat to a function.
The foreign office said that well before holding any event and inviting a foreign diplomat, the department or organization concerned should approach the foreign office or its came offices located in the provincial capitals for permission.
An official said that they after receiving an application the foreign office gather the purpose and objective of the function and invitation being extended to the diplomate concern after all this information office issues and no objection certificate (NOC).
The foreign office reminded all the organisations and departments concerned who planned to invite any foreign diplomate to their events after a police mobile was attacked in Swat on Sept 22 killing one police official and injuring three others.
The police mobile was on security duty of 10 foreign ambassadors who were in Swat to attend an event on the invitation of the chamber of commerce and industry in Mingora. The ambassadors were later rushed back to Islamabad.
In another incident, an Afghan diplomate was invited to a function held in connection with the Independence Day of Pakistan in Peshawar on August 14. During the function, when the national anthem of Pakistan was played all the participants of the function stood on their seats in respect of it but the Afghan guest continued sitting on the stage.
This insulting behaviour of the Afghan diplomate was severely criticized by the media in Pakistan. Later, it transpired that the Khyber Pakthunkhwa government had not taken any permission from the foreign office before inviting the Afghan diplomat to the function.
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