Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign office has clarified that its Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi was replaced by Ambassador Munir Akram upon completion of her tenure at the UN, dispelling rumours that Lodhi was sacked by the government.
Foreign office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal in a tweet dismissed such reports ending speculation about the recent appointment of Pakistan’s permanent envoy to UN.
Dr Faisal clarified in his Friday’s tweet that there was no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr Maleeha Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason.
“She completed her tenure and as FM (foreign minister) has said, she served Pakistan with distinction and commitment and organised the Prime Minister’s successful UNGA visit with skill and dedication,” FO spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said.
Prime Minister Khan on his return from New York last week had approved the appointment of seasoned diplomat Ambassador Munir Akram as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations replacing Dr Maleeha Lodhi. The decision was later announced by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a tweet.
Dr Maleeha Lodhi has served in the post since 2015.
The sudden announcement by Qureshi regarding exit of Lodhi led to speculation that she was sacked for expressing disapproval of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance in the UN.
She was instead praised by the foreign office spokesperson and Qureshi who spoke highly of her for presenting Pakistan’s case on Kashmir so well at the world forum.
Lodhi in her farewell tweet too thanked the government of Pakistan. “It has been an honour to serve the country & 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.”
Dr Faisal earlier in his weekly press briefing on Thursday regretted what he described as “slander campaign” against newly-appointed UN envoy.
“Unfortunately, there has been a slander campaign against the appointment of Ambassador Munir Akram, which is reprehensible,” the spokesperson said, adding, “It must be noted that he is a distinguished and experienced member of Foreign Service of Pakistan and an eminent diplomat.”
Dr Faisal said Ambassador Akram’s contributions were “internationally acknowledged and recognised” and he will soon assume his duties in New York.
Ambassador Munir Akram: Not ‘new’ to the new job
The 74-year-old seasoned diplomat replacing Dr Maleeha Lodhi is not new to his job as he has earlier served the same for six years (from 2002 to 2008). He has not only served in New York but also in Geneva at various offices of the UN.
Born in 1945, Munir Akram holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Karachi.
He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1967.
Ambassador Akram also served at the Pakistani missions in various world capitals, including Brussels and Tokyo, and as the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions and par-excellence performance in the field of diplomacy and foreign policy, the Government of Pakistan conferred on him Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam.
