Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that he was "taken aback" by a statement from the Foreign Office (FO) distancing itself from the controversy surrounding columnist Shama Junejo’s presence at a recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting.
The issue arose after Asif addressed a UNSC session on artificial intelligence on September 25. Social media users quickly circulated photos showing Junejo seated behind him, along with screenshots from her past posts on X (formerly Twitter), which appeared to show support for Israel — sparking widespread backlash.
In response to the online uproar, Asif clarified on X that Junejo’s attendance at the session was at the discretion of the Foreign Office. The FO, however, issued a statement distancing itself from her presence, asserting that she was not listed in the official letter of credence for Pakistan’s delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
"I Was Taken Aback" — Asif Responds
Speaking during a news programme, Asif confirmed that he was surprised by the FO’s stance.
“I was taken aback — in fact, I was a bit disturbed — that people could be part of the delegation and then no one takes ownership of them,” he said.
Asif clarified that it's common for people to be photographed with him during overseas visits, and that while Junejo did take a photo with him in a hotel lobby, he did not know her personally.
He reiterated that he had no prior knowledge of her inclusion and did not inquire about it at the time.
No Official Role for Junejo
Asked whether Junejo held any official position, such as being a speechwriter for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the UNGA, Asif firmly denied the claim. He stated that, based on the information available to him, Junejo held no official role — not even as an adviser or special assistant.
Clarifications on Social Media
In an earlier post on X, Asif explained that he had addressed the UNSC session in place of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was engaged in other commitments during the ongoing UNGA session.
“This woman — whoever she is — was seated behind me at the discretion of the Foreign Office,” he said, distancing himself from her presence.
He emphasized his long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, saying:
“My emotional and personal commitment to Palestine spans over 60 years. I have Palestinian friends and colleagues from my time in Abu Dhabi, and I remain in touch with them.”
Asif added that his stance on Gaza is well known and consistent, expressing strong opposition to Israel and Zionism.
“My views on Gaza are clear, and I express them openly. My account on X reflects that my support for Palestine is part of my faith,” he said.
He concluded that questions regarding Junejo’s presence behind him at the session should be directed to the Foreign Office.
Foreign Office Statement
Late Friday night, the FO issued its own clarification on X, stating that it had taken note of public queries regarding “the seating of a certain individual behind the defence minister at a recent UNSC meeting.” Though it did not name Junejo directly, the implication was clear.
“To clarify, the individual in question was not included in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the 80th UNGA session, which was signed by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister,” the statement said.
“As such, her seating behind the defence minister did not have the approval of the deputy prime minister or foreign minister,” it concluded.