By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Defence minister, Khawaja Asif, expressed dismay on Saturday over a controversy sparked by the presence of columnist Shama Junejo at a United Nations Security Council session, where she was photographed seated behind him during his address on artificial intelligence.
The incident, which ignited a firestorm on social media, prompted the Foreign Office to clarify that Junejo was not part of the official delegation to the 80th UN General Assembly session.
The uproar began on Wednesday when Asif spoke at the UN Security Council in place of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was attending other engagements during the General Assembly in New York. Social media users on the platform X quickly noticed Junejo in the background and circulated screenshots of her posts from years ago that appeared to express support for Israel. The images fueled intense debate in Pakistan, a nation with a strong public stance against Israel and in favor of the Palestinian cause.
“I was taken aback, rather I was a bit disturbed that such people could be with the delegation whom no one owns later,” Asif told a private television channel on Saturday. He said he did not know Junejo personally, noting that strangers often take photos with him abroad. “She, too, had a photograph with me in a hotel lobby, but I did not know her.”
Late on Friday, the Foreign Office posted on X to address “queries regarding the seating of a certain individual behind the defence minister at a recent meeting of the UNSC.” Without naming Junejo, the ministry said, “The individual in question was not listed in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the 80th UNGA session, signed by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister.” It added that her seating “did not have the approval of the deputy prime minister/foreign minister.”
Asif, a longtime advocate for Palestine, reaffirmed his commitment to the cause. “For the past 60 years, I have an emotional attachment and personal commitment to the Palestine cause,” he said, citing friendships with Palestinians from his time in Abu Dhabi. “My views on Gaza are clear and I express them openly,” he added, denouncing Israel and Zionism. “My account on X is a testament to the fact that my relationship with Palestine is part of my faith.”
Asif deflected questions about Junejo’s role, saying, “Who is this woman, why is she with the delegation, and why was she seated behind me? Only the Foreign Office can answer these questions. It is not appropriate for me to respond on their behalf.” He also denied speculation that Junejo was a speechwriter for Sharif or held any official role, such as adviser or special assistant.
Junejo, a polarising columnist, responded on X, posting screenshots of recent posts condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. “Youthias are calling me a Zionist when for the past two years I have tweeted about Gaza almost daily, calling [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu a war criminal and showing Israeli atrocities,” she wrote, using a slur often aimed at supporters of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. “Once again, this entire campaign has been launched against me because they only fear me.”
The controversy has raised questions about how Junejo was seated prominently at the UN session. Shireen Mazari, a former human rights minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member, said on X, “One cannot sit behind a minister in the UNSC or the United Nations General Assembly unless they were identified as an official representative of the government.” She demanded answers, asking, “So who allowed this to happen and why? Is there a covert policy agenda at work viz rogue entity Israel, Bagram base, Abraham Accords? GoP needs to come clean — who is responsible?”
International observers also weighed in. Mehlaqa Samdani, director of the Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, said on X, “To include Shama Junejo, who champions a pro-Israel and pro-normalisation agenda, in Pakistan’s #UNGA delegation is not a good look for Pakistan.”
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