Daily Times

Foreign office has sought Prime Minister Imran Khan’s permission for the removal of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Sahibzada Ahmed Khan.

Credible sources have told Daily Times that a thorough investigation by an internal team of the Foreign Office had found the high commissioner guilty of misconduct at a showbiz award ceremony in London in the last week of August. Following the probe report, the Foreign Office sent a summary to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking the high commissioner’s removal and the appointment of new high commissioner to the UK.

Earlier, the PM discussed the matter with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi after which the Foreign Office was directed to initiate the process. However, since ambassador level appointments are made by the President, the PM would also take up the matter with the President and seek cabinet approval as well.

A source has revealed that the Foreign Office’s nominee for Sahibzada Ahmed Khan’s replacement was currently serving as the ambassador to Belgium, Nagmana Hashmi. However, her nomination was rejected by the PM who told the Foreign Office to wait for the new appointment.

Meanwhile, Sahibzada Ahmed Khan, following the orders from Foreign Office has gone back to London to wind up his assignments.

Since the high commissioner is quite well connected, he is expected to be engaged in extensive lobbying to reverse the government’s decision to remove him from the post.

Sources in the Foreign Office state that this would be the second instance for Sahibzada Ahmed Khan when he is removed midway from a diplomatic appointment. Earlier, he was serving as the Counsel General in Toronto when he was removed some eight years ago. However, instead of returning to Islamabad, he managed to get himself transferred to Pakistan’s mission to UN in New York.

Published in Daily Times, October 4^th 2018.