ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office has moved to clarify a controversy sparked by the presence of Shama Junejo, who was seen seated directly behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a recent session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
With Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaged in other commitments, Khawaja Asif represented Pakistan at the UNSC meeting. However, footage of Junejo’s prominent placement behind him quickly circulated online, triggering criticism from social media users who pointed to her past statements allegedly in support of recognizing Israel.
In response, the Foreign Office issued a statement on Saturday confirming that Junejo’s name was not included in Pakistan’s official credentials submitted to the UN General Assembly.
The spokesperson emphasized that her seating behind the Defence Minister had been arranged without the approval of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
“The individual’s presence was neither authorized by the leadership nor sanctioned by the Deputy Prime Minister,” the statement said, adding that the Ministry had formally noted the questions raised over the matter.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also sought to distance himself from the episode. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “Who is this woman, why was she part of the delegation, and why was she seated behind me? These questions can only be answered by the Foreign Office.”
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