Published 23:33 IST, September 30th 2019
Maleeha Lodhi out! Imran Khan replaces Pakistan's envoy after UN flop
Maleeha Lodhi was replaced by Munir Akram as Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN by Pak PM Imran Khan days after his failed UN visit in New York
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has replaced Maleeha Lodhi as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York with Munir Akram on Monday, September 30. Lodhi’s sacking comes two days after Imran Khan returned to Pakistan wrapping up his US visit, where he addressed the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. According to the reports, Imran Khan is disappointed with the results of his visit as he failed to internationalise the Kashmir issue on the global stage.
Maleeha Lodhi- A goof-up expert
Maleeha Lodhi has held the office of Pakistan's envoy to the UN since February 2015. Munir Akram has served as Pakistan's permanent representative to UN for six years between 2002 and 2008. In an earlier incident, Maleeha Lodhi majorly goofed-up when she called British Prime Minister Boris Johnson 'Foreign Minister' on Twitter. She deleted the tweet after around an hour and put out another picture 'Sorry typo in the previous tweet. Prime Minister Imran Khan Met British PM this morning'.
Pak's Permanent Envoy left red-faced on global stage
In August, she was also left red-faced after she was heckled by a person during an event, who told her that she "does not deserve" to represent the country, He asked, "What are you doing for Pakistan? You are a thief and don't deserve to represent our country. While the diplomat was apparently addressing media persons, the man, who seemed enraged, was heard asking whether she had a minute to answer his questions and then without waiting for a reply asked: "What are you doing from the last 15 to 20 years. You are not representing us."
Lodhi asked him to stop, to which the man replied he will not as it is not against the law and, moreover he is a Pakistani. The diplomat composed herself and chided him for the manner in which he put forth the questions. She further said that she would not respond to his questions. As Lodhi began to leave, the questioner heckled her by saying: "You guys are stealing our money, You guys are thieves and you don't deserve to represent Pakistan."
Updated 00:00 IST, October 1st 2019