Pakistan Faces Backlash Over Unauthorized Delegate at UNGA.
The Pakistani government is under fire after a London-based researcher was spotted sitting with its delegation during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denying her authorization.
Dr. Shama Junejo was seen behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a UN Security Council debate, sparking outrage online due to her past expressions of support for Israel. The uproar prompted Asif to publicly reaffirm his commitment to Palestine, while the Foreign Ministry clarified that Junejo was not included in the official letter of credence signed for Pakistan’s UNGA delegation.
The ministry stated that her seating “did not have the approval” of either the Deputy Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister. Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has consistently backed Palestinian statehood based on pre-1967 borders—a stance reiterated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his UNGA address.
The controversy deepened after resurfaced social media posts showed Junejo praising Israeli technology, expressing willingness to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and claiming to have advised Sharif since May 2025. Though she later said she joined others in walking out during Netanyahu’s speech, critics questioned how she gained access to official platforms.
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