Shama Junejo Responds Strongly to Khawaja Asif’s Denial: “Everything Is Documented and On Record”

ISLAMABAD — In a new twist to the controversy surrounding Pakistani journalist and analyst Shama Junejo’s presence during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Junejo has issued a detailed public statement, directly challenging Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s claim of not knowing her.

The controversy erupted after a photo of Khawaja Asif at the UNGA went viral on social media, showing Shama Junejo seated directly behind him. Junejo’s alleged pro-Israel stance had already made her a target of criticism, and her visible inclusion in the Pakistani delegation raised serious questions online.

Khawaja Asif, when questioned, denied knowing Junejo and shifted responsibility to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which later clarified that she was not part of the official delegation.

However, Junejo has now broken her silence and delivered a scathing rebuttal on X (formerly Twitter), stating that not only was she officially part of the Prime Minister’s team, but she was also formally designated as an advisor and played a key role in preparing the PM’s speech.

“I’ve been working for months with Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” she wrote. “During the Indo-Pak tensions, I provided policy briefs and talking points — everything is documented and part of the official record.”

She added that the Prime Minister personally assigned her the task of drafting his UNGA speech, and her name was officially included as an advisor. “My security pass was issued on that basis. I stayed at the same hotel as the PM and his team, and I was present at key side-line meetings, including one with Bill Gates.”

She also claimed she sat beside Finance Minister Ishaq Dar during the Climate Conference, despite the ministry tweeting that she wasn’t part of the delegation. “Even during the AI conference, I was seated behind Khawaja Asif along with Bilal. We spent 40 minutes together having tea while waiting for our car. We travelled back together — in the same vehicle — where Khawaja Asif sat right next to me.”

Junejo described her involvement as substantial, not symbolic. “I was part of the team that clapped for the Prime Minister after his speech at the UN. The speech was a collective effort — not mine alone, but I contributed significantly.”

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“Why is Khawaja Asif denying this now? What agenda is he serving by discrediting a historic diplomatic mission led by his own government?” she questioned in her post.

Junejo ended her post by stating:

“The Prime Minister’s authority has been challenged here, not mine. He should ask Khawaja Asif why such statements are being made.”

The unfolding public exchange has added yet another layer of controversy to the Pakistani delegation’s high-stakes diplomatic mission to the UNGA — raising questions not just about transparency, but also internal divisions within the ruling coalition.