Pak rights body asks court to 'restrain' Munir Akram from being UN rep

In a huge embarrassment to Pakistan PM Imran Khan, a leading women's rights body in the country has called for the restraining of recently-appointed Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram, say reports.  Munir Akram had been appointed Pakistan's Permanent Representive to the United Nations in October. The women's rights body has asked the Singh High Court to restrain his appointment as the UN ambassador to Pakistan, the repiorts added. 

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Sexual assault charges against Akram

Akram had served as the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN from 2002 to 2008. Akram had been accused of assault against his then-girlfriend in 2002 and the US had also asked Pakistan waive his diplomatic unity in the case. He was later dismissed by the then president Asif Ali Zardari over his disagreement in presenting the case of assassination of his wife Benazir Bhutto in 2007 to the United Nations. 

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Women's body calls Akram's appoinment 'unlawful'

In its petition, the body called Women's Action Forum (WAF) on Thursday said to the Sindh High Court that Akram's appointment was “illegal, unlawful and void-ab-initio”, the reports said. As per the report, the body asked the court to restrain him from performing his role as 'Ambassador / Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations'. The report added that the rights body also pointed out that as per the country's laws, a retired civil servant cannot be re-hired by the federal government unless the reasons for his re-hiring were concerned with public interest, .

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'Permanently restrain' Akram: Women's body

Asking the court of thinking about the impression Akram's appointment as Pakistan's ambassador would create in the world and on country's official representatives to world bodies, the report said. The organisation also cited reports from international media where he was accused of domestic violence. The organisation asked the court to direct Akram to show the authority which made him the UN Ambassador, the report said. The WAF also asked the court to declare Akram's appointment letter was illegal and was issued without lawful authority, the report said. Reports added that the WAF requested the court to ‘permanently restrain’ Akram as the UN ambassador.

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