Khawaja Asif “Taken Aback” as Foreign Office Denies Shama Junejo’s Role in UN Delegation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed surprise and concern after the Foreign Office distanced itself from the controversy surrounding columnist Shama Junejo’s alleged inclusion in the country’s delegation for a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting.

On September 25, during a UNSC session focused on artificial intelligence, Asif delivered Pakistan’s address. Soon after, images circulating on social media showed Junejo seated behind him. Screenshots of her older posts reportedly expressing support for Israel triggered sharp criticism. In response, Asif said that Junejo’s presence in the room was at the discretion of the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office later clarified that she was not mentioned in the official letter of credentials for Pakistan’s delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking on the Geo News show Naya Pakistan, Asif said he was “taken aback” and “disturbed” to see someone with controversial affiliations in the delegation when it was not clear who was responsible. He noted that being photographed with officials abroad is not unusual, but emphasized that he did not know Junejo personally and was unaware of her presence at the session.

He also denied that Junejo held any formal role with the government—neither as an adviser nor special assistant. He responded firmly when asked whether she had written Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA speech, saying she had not.

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Junejo herself posted on X (formerly Twitter) screenshots of her past tweets condemning the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, denying allegations of being pro-Israel or involved in any government normalization agendas. She described the criticism as unfair and politically motivated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted queries regarding the seating of a certain individual behind the Defence Minister at a recent meeting of the UNSC. To clarify, the individual in question was not listed in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the… https://t.co/60w0te9hLX

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 26, 2025

The controversy has sparked public debate in Pakistan. Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari demanded transparency—questioning who granted permission for Junejo’s seating near the minister and whether there was an undisclosed policy influence at play. Civil society voices also chimed in: some criticized the inclusion as damaging to Pakistan’s image, while others defended Junejo’s right to express diplomatic views without being unfairly labeled.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office reiterated that Junejo was not included in the official delegation list, and her seating did not have formal approval from the Deputy Prime Minister or Foreign Minister.

The incident underscores tensions between perception, official protocol, and public expectation in matters of diplomatic representation. Asif maintained that while Pakistan is committed to issues like the Palestine cause, questions about November’s seating arrangements should be directed to the Foreign Office—not the Defence Minister.