No truth in insinuations that Maleeha Lodhi was 'removed': FO
Dr Maleeha Lodhi held the office of Pakistan's envoy to the UN since February 2015.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal on Friday said there is no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr. Maleeha Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason.
In a tweet, he said Dr. Maleeha Lodhi completed her tenure and as the Foreign Minister has said, she served Pakistan with distinction and commitment. He said Dr. Maleeha Lodhi organised the Prime Minister’s successful UN General Assembly visit with skill and dedication.
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
On September 30, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved the appointment of Munir Akram as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Akram had previously served as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN for six years from 2002 to 2008.
Maleeha Lodhi in a series of tweets after the announcement of Akram’s appointment said she had planned to move on after UNGA following a “successful” visit by the Prime Minister.
“It has been an honour to serve the country and am grateful for the opportunity to do so for over four years. Representing Pakistan at the world’s most important multilateral forum was a great privilege. I had planned to move on after UNGA following a successful visit by the PM,” she said.
Lodhi said she was humbled by the “appreciation” she received for Imran Khan’s visit and wished her successor best of luck over his new appointment.
“I am humbled by the appreciation I have received for the PM’s visit and the support I have also received over the years. I wish my successor Munir Akram the best of luck!,” she said in another tweet
In other appointments, Muhammad Aejaz, Additional Secretary (AIT) at MoFA has been appointed as Ambassador of Pakistan to Hungary while Syed Sajjad Haider, presently serving as Charge d’ Affaires (ap) of Pakistan to Pyongyang has been posted as Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait.
Khalil Ahmad Hashmi has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva and Imran Ahmad Siddiqui, presently serving as Consul General of Pakistan Toronto has been posted as High Commissioner of Pakistan for Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abrar Hussain Hashmi has been appointed as Pakistan’s Consul General in Houston.
