We cannot compromise on Palestine at any cost,” Qaisar asserted
Faisal Sheikh
Islamabad, October 3 — PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar strongly criticized the government on Thursday, raising questions over the presence of social activist Shama Junejo at the recent United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, Qaisar asked how Junejo, who holds no official government position, was allowed to sit directly behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during the high-profile session. He termed it a breach of protocol and demanded clarity from the government over her inclusion in the official Pakistani delegation.
Khawaja Asif, responding to the criticism, distanced himself from Junejo’s presence, saying he had no role in her being seated with the delegation. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar declined to comment on the controversy when pressed in the Assembly.
Shama Junejo, however, clarified her position in a statement, saying that her inclusion in the delegation was approved by the Prime Minister’s Office. “I was invited and made part of the official delegation by the Prime Minister himself,” she said, rejecting the criticism.
Alongside the issue, Asad Qaisar also lashed out at the government for “siding with Donald Trump” on his proposed Middle East peace plan. He argued that the government had failed to stand firmly with the united stance of Muslim countries on Palestine. “The government’s mixed signals are damaging Pakistan’s credibility. We cannot compromise on Palestine at any cost,” Qaisar asserted.
The twin controversies — over delegation management and foreign policy on Palestine — have stirred heated debate in the National Assembly, with the opposition demanding transparency and a clear stance from the government on both matters.
