Uproar as Pakistan says researcher with Israel-friendly posts not part of UNGA delegation
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Foreign Office has denied that researcher Dr. Shama Junejo is part of the country’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that is currently led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after she was seen sitting behind Defense Minister Khawaja Asif during a Security Council debate this week.
Junejo, a researcher based in London, has previously drawn criticism for her social media posts in support of Israel. A video clip showing Junejo sitting behind Defense Minister Asif at the UNSC on Sept. 25 has gone viral and since caused uproar in Pakistan.
On Friday, Asif said he did not know the woman sitting behind him in the video and it was entirely the prerogative of the Foreign Office to choose analysts and researchers for the Pakistani delegation. The minister said his views on Gaza and Israel have always been clear and only the Foreign Office could answer queries about the said woman.
“To clarify, 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,” the Pakistani Foreign Office said on Saturday, responding to queries.
