Baseless charges: Pakistan recalls ‘harassed’ diplomat from Bangladesh

She was accuse­d of financ­ing a suspec­ted extrem­ist on trial for espion­age

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Thursday said it had recalled a diplomat deputed to the High Commission in Bangladesh as it dismissed the “baseless charges” against her.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Office said it had recalled Second Secretary Farina Arshad at the High Commission in Dhaka, as it accused Bangladeshi authorities of constantly harassing her.

“Lately, an incessant and orchestrated media campaign was launched against her on spurious charges linking her with so called terrorists,” a statement released by the Foreign Office complained.

“The government of Pakistan twice summoned the High Commissioner of Bangladesh and a strong protest was lodged against the treatment meted out to her.”

The foreign office added that the Pakistan mission in Dhaka too had issued a statement on December 16 refuting reports in the Bangladeshi media which linked Arshad to a suspected member of the banned Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2015.