Pakistan’s Foreign Office in what is a belated clarification has made it clear that Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, was not sacked. Dr. Muhammad Faisal, in a tweet, clarified that the matter. “There is no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr. Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason,” Dr. Faisal said.
There is no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr Maleeha Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason. She completed her tenure and as FM has said, she served Pakistan with distinction and commitment and organised the Prime Minister’s successful UNGA visit with skill and dedication.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 4, 2019
Earlier there were some speculations as if Dr. Lodhi was sacked by Premier Khan for some undisclosed reasons. Some people associated her sacking with the Premier’s visit to the UNGA.
For those, who were repeatedly singing a song of successful UN trip by PM Imran Khan, the permanent representative of Pakistan in UN Ms. Maleeha Lodhi has been sacked from office, as she became 1st casualty of what PTI & their allies were claiming "victory at UNGA" wait for more
— Ansar Naqvi (@naqvi1966) September 30, 2019
Quoting Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the spokesman said the outgoing envoy “served Pakistan with distinction and commitment and organized the Prime Minister’s successful UNGA visit with skill and dedication”.
Dr. Lodhi served as ambassador to the UN for nearly four-and-a-half years. In these years, she has been vocal and committed to highlighting brutalities being committed by the Indian armed forces in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. She may be remembered for her upright and clear position on the issue of Kashmir and her efforts to internationalize it.
Moreover, Dr. Lodhi had soon after the announcement of the name of her successor said that she had “planned to move on after the UN General Assembly”.
It has been an honour to serve the country & am grateful for the opportunity to do so for over four years. Representing Pakistan at the world’s most important multilateral forum was a great privilege. I had planned to move on after UNGA following a successful visit by the PM -1
— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) September 30, 2019
In a reply to Dr. Shirin Mazari, Dr. Lodhi said she is looking forward to serve the country in a different capacity.
Thank you Shirin I look forward to serving the country in a different capacity inshallah https://t.co/sW4rpAYBXH
— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) October 1, 2019
She also replied to Senator Sherry Rehman and said:
I had indicated I wanted to move on. I will of course continue to serve my country
— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) September 30, 2019
She was Pakistan’s first female Permanent Representative at the UN and now returns to the country to take up an important assignment. She has been vocal on the issue of Kashmir and Palestine. She spoke up with bravery and grace and helped Pakistan strengthen her position at the highest international forum. Dr. Lodhi has always been of the view that “this was her greatest professional challenge, being Pakistan’s ambassador to the world at a time of profound global flux and multiple foreign policy challenges for Pakistan”
She also had to face criticism after her son allegedly married an India girl. Several quarters raised questions on her patriotism and demanded the government to sack her. She remained graceful and dignified amidst criticism from her professional rivals which made her distinguished.
Read more: Dr. Maleeha Lodhi completes her long diplomatic inning with distinction!
Later on, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed had to issue a clarification on the matter. “It has now become incumbent upon us to give the other side of the story to clarify what is being propagated through social media virally. Maleeha Lodhi’s son is around 40 and already married. The pictures are of the wedding of Ahmed Rasheed (Taliban expert)’s son, his bride too is a Muslim not Hindu,” the ambassador said, adding “suddenly Maleeha Lodhi has become a target to defame her. Her photos are being shared about her links with India.”