ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday dispelled the notion that Dr Maleeha Lodhi was removed as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
“There is no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr Maleeha Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason,” Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal tweeted.
“She completed her tenure and as FM has said, she served Pakistan with distinction and commitment and organised the Prime Minister’s successful UNGA visit with skill and dedication,” he added.
In a major reshuffle on Sept 30, Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed Ambassador Munir Akram as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in place of Maleeha Lodhi.
There is no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr Maleeha Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason. She completed her tenure and as FM has said, she served Pakistan with distinction and commitment and organised the Prime Minister’s successful UNGA visit with skill and dedication.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) October 4, 2019
Slander campaign deplored
On Thursday during the weekly press briefing, the Foreign office spokesman strongly condemned the slander campaign against the appointment of Munir Akram as ‘reprehensible’.
He was asked to comment on the removal of Maleeha Lodhi after the successful visit of Prime Imran Khan to the United Nations and the allegations against the new envoy.
Dr Mohammad Faisal said: “I believe that Dr Maleeha Lodhi was replaced after the completion of her tenure”.
READ MORE: Foreign Office deplores slander campaign against new UN envoy
Rejecting the allegations against Pakistan’s new envoy, he said, “Unfortunately, there has been a slander campaign against the appointment of Ambassador Munir Akram, which is reprehensible”.
He said that Akram is a distinguished and experienced member of the Foreign Service of Pakistan and an eminent diplomat whose contributions are internationally acknowledged and recognised.
“His contributions are internationally acknowledged and recognized. He will assume his duties in New York soon,” the foreign office spokesman said.
