Ali Jehangir Siddiqui leaves for US as Pakistan's envoy

Just four days before end of its tenure, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government has appoint Ali Jehangir Siddiqui as the new ambassador to the United States.

Sources said the ambassador-designate left for the US via Abu Dhabi on Saturday night at 8:40. The appointment raised many questions and diplomats expressed their surprise over the decision.

According to Express News, he will present his credentials on Monday [tomorrow]. It is uncertain if he will be able to continue as the ambassador after the end of the incumbent government’s term.

Diplomats also questioned the haste in the decision-making process in his appointment. Senior Foreign Office officials also expressed reservations over the appointment.

They said that the appointment was politically motivated.

Interestingly, there are pending cases against him in the Islamabad High Court and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is also probing a number of cases against him.

Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman told Express News that the appointment was in glaring violation of established rules. This, she said, was a very sensitive position, reflecting the country’s identity.

"Relation between Pakistan and the US are passing through a difficult time. In this situation, why the government has appointed such a controversial person to represent Pakistan’s interests in Washington?" she asked.

This appointment, she said, would give an impression that the government is not serious in its relations with the US.

She said she had tendered resignations on the day of election, but had continued to serve as ambassador on the request of the caretaker government and her own party.