Seven new envoys: Ambassadors-designate call on PM Ashraf

PM Ashraf directed the envoys to interact with local media and apprise them of Pakistan’s role in the global war.


Our Correspondent February 03, 2013
A file photo of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

ISLAMABAD:


Ambassadors-designate to Jordan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius, Lt Gen (retd) Ahsan Azhar Hayat, Maj Gen (retd) Qasim Qureshi and Maj Gen (retd) Ulfat Hussain Shah, respectively, called on Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf at the PM’s House on Saturday.


With the addition of three more retired generals, the number of former military officers serving as ambassadors has reached six. The other three countries where retired army officers are serving as envoys include Ukraine, Nigeria and Brunei Darussalam.

PM Ashraf directed the envoys to interact with local media and apprise them of Pakistan’s role in the global war against terror.

Earlier Ambassadors-designate to Thailand, New Zealand, Qatar and Cambodia, Dr Sohail Khan, Zehra H Akbari, Syed Hasan Raza and Amjad Ali Sher, respectively, also called on Prime Minister Ashraf.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2013.

COMMENTS (2)

Nasir Chaudhry | 11 years ago | Reply

It is simply preposterous that instead of nominating the hard working civil servants who toil in abysmal conditions at the country's Foreign Office, Retired military men are being sent as our Ambassadors abroad.

What image building are we trying to carry out by this process? How will these gentlemen be viewed by the diplomatic community, particularly the European diplomats at stations of their duty?

What experience of diplomacy do these gentlemen posses?

Brunei, for all purposes, has become a military post, no wonder that they have announced support for India's Security Council candidature. Instead of further consolidating relations with Ukraine and expanding relations with an important African country like Nigeria, we are distributing such portfolios for trivial political considerations and a "Koi Gal Nai." attitude.

Breakthroughs in Pakistan's Foreign Relations, be that of opening with China, erstwhile USSR, 71 crisis, forays into the Gulf, OIC Summit, RCD/ECO, Sri Lankan problem, UN debates can only and solely be attributed to some of our brilliant diplomats who work with limited resources and deliver against heavy, very heavy odds. Agha Shahi, Agha Hilaly, Sultan Khan, Jamsheed Marker, Munir Akram, J.A.Rahim, Mr. Dehlvi were not from the military, yet they achieved and are un sung heroes.

However, this is one of the last wake up calls for those at the FO, if they dont stand up for their rights, for something which belongs to them after all those years of service, something for which they have worked hard and qualified for (CSS examinations), no one would, they would continue to suffer and humilate themselves!

naeem khan Manhattan,Ks | 11 years ago | Reply

In Pakistan there is shortage of intelligent people in foreign or civil service, Is he placating the generals so PPP could come back through pre-poll rigging. Some how in our country the generals never fade away, they always remain on the Pakistan's treasury. Come to think of it, Pakistanis deserve what they got in Islamabad because they sent them there to loot and loot till the country is bankrupt morally and financially.

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