ISLAMABAD – The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday issued a clarification following strong criticism over Dr. Shama Junejo’s presence in Pakistan’s delegation at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
In a statement, the FO stressed that Junejo was not part of the official delegation. “The individual in question was not listed in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the 80th UNGA Session, signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. As such, her seating behind the defense minister did not have the approval of the deputy prime minister, ”deputy prime minister/foreign minister,” the statement read.
Junejo faced backlash after social media users resurfaced her past posts on X, in which she expressed regard for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Critics accused her of supporting Zionism, questioning her presence at a high-level diplomatic forum.
Former federal ministers Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudhry slammed the government and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif for allowing a “supporter of Israel” to appear as part of the Pakistan delegation.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif himself distanced himself himself from the controversy, demanding answers from the FO. In a post on X, he wrote, “Who wrote, “Who is this woman? Why is she with us in the delegation? And why was she seated behind me? Only the Foreign Office can answer these questions.”
The FO reiterated that her seating arrangement had no official approval from Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. However, it remains unclear who facilitated Junejo’s access and placement within the delegation at the UNGA.