Pakistan Embassies around the world

[Major]

The official Twitter account of Pakistan's embassy in Serbia tweeted criticism targeting Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, citing rising inflation and alleged non-payment of salaries for three months.

"With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect [MENTION=5335]imrankhan[/MENTION]PTI that we [government] official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non payment of fees. Is this #NayaPakistan ?" the verified account said in the tweet.

The tweet along with the text critising the premier included a parody song with the "Ghabrana nahi hai (we do not have to worry)" catchphrase.


Under the above tweet, the account posted another tweet saying: "I am sorry [MENTION=5335]imrankhan[/MENTION]PTI, am not left with another option."

It's not clear whether the account was hacked. Dawn.com has reached out to the Foreign Office for a comment.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Focal Person on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid said the account was hacked according to the Foreign Office and it was conducting an inquiry into the matter.

Earlier this week, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed inflation edged up to 11.5pc from 9.2pc, the highest increase noted in the past 20 months influenced by a record hike in fuel prices in October.

The massive rupee depreciation fuelled import-led inflation. Inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to its highest level in 20 months — the period when global oil prices kept rising steadily undermining earlier gains.

At the same time, prices of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat also posted a persistent increase in major urban and rural centres.

The average inflation during the July-November period rose to 9.32pc on a yearly basis.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" [MENTION=5335]imrankhan[/MENTION]PTI</a> that we goverment official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non payment of fees<br>Is this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NayaPakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NayaPakistan</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/PwtZNV84tv">pic.twitter.com/PwtZNV84tv</a></p>— Pakistan Embassy Serbia (@PakinSerbia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakinSerbia/status/1466647603395928064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Twitter account of Pakistan's embassy in Serbia is hacked as per information from foreign office and <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ForeignOfficePk</a> is conducting an enquiry into it.</p>— Dr Arslan Khalid (@arslankhalid_m) <a href="https://twitter.com/arslankhalid_m/status/1466664788029702146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

source dawn

 

[Major]

Foreign office is now doing inquiry if it really got said or not

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Would srrbia not have close ties with india?

 

[MenInG]

Foreign office is now doing inquiry if it really got said or not

And you find that funny as a Pakistani?

 

[Major]

And you find that funny as a Pakistani?

yup.

Govt employees of Pakistan also exposing the PM and its policies...... Imran Khan has lately been making inquiries against bureacrat for mocking him on facebook )

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Would srrbia not have close ties with india?

Let the conspiracies begin

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

And you find that funny as a Pakistani?

Someone’s saying the truth. No one is criticizing the nation. A political party is. Nothing wrong

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

End is nigh for kaptaan

 

[street cricketer]

There's always the naughty nephew excuse

 

[IMMY69]

There is no conspiracy in this.
It has to be investigated because it is highly unlikely that the staff of an embassy (no matter which country's embassy) would put out a tweet like that unless they're,

1. extremely incompetent or;
2. the account was hacked.

 

[saeedhk]

An inquiry was initiated against a bureaucrat after he compared Imran Khan’s govt with the Afghan Taliban’s.

 

[Kaptan]

There's always the naughty nephew excuse

Another mission successfully completed by Raa agent Om Prakash Mishra.

 

[Mamoon]

This wasn’t hacked. Let’s not forget that they are human beings too with families to look after.

Imran has destroyed Pakistan’s economy and people will speak up. The fact that government officials are publicly criticizing the PTI government now clearly shows how desperate the situation has become and how much damage Imran has done to the country.

This is extremely humiliating for Imran and his government but nothing less than what they deserve. Easily the most incompetent PM and government in Pakistan’s history.

 

[Vegitto1]

Its been thard for foreign embassies. They are no longer allowed to supplement their income with bribes and hand-outs. Chor machaye Shor!

 

[pakistanisgreat]

Its been thard for foreign embassies. They are no longer allowed to supplement their income with bribes and hand-outs. Chor machaye Shor!

How would you prove that allegations?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Is there any truth to the no salary for 3 months allegation?

 

[Varun]

Its been thard for foreign embassies. They are no longer allowed to supplement their income with bribes and hand-outs. Chor machaye Shor!

But the allegation is that there hasn't been any income in the first place - at least 3 months worth.

 

[IMMY69]

It's funny that the article itself states that the PM's focal point on IT says it's hacked yet people here already claiming it's not hacked.

On another note, no one is blaming Indian hackers for this. IK has many political enemies in Pakistan (one one sitting in London) who are more then capable of doing this.

The sensible people, of which there are not many, will wait for the results of the investigation.

 

[Major]

It's funny that the article itself states that the PM's focal point on IT says it's hacked yet people here already claiming it's not hacked.

On another note, no one is blaming Indian hackers for this. IK has many political enemies in Pakistan (one one sitting in London) who are more then capable of doing this.

The sensible people, of which there are not many, will wait for the results of the investigation.

if its hacked, which is most likely, than why is foreign office making inquiries?

 

[Major]

This wasn’t hacked. Let’s not forget that they are human beings too with families to look after.

Imran has destroyed Pakistan’s economy and people will speak up. The fact that government officials are publicly criticizing the PTI government now clearly shows how desperate the situation has become and how much damage Imran has done to the country.

This is extremely humiliating for Imran and his government but nothing less than what they deserve. Easily the most incompetent PM and government in Pakistan’s history.

PM is also doing inquiries against a government servant who made comments against PTI on facebook on some private group. I think he was a grade 20-21 officer

Whats funny is that govt is looking for critics in fb groups

 

[cricketjoshila]

if its hacked, which is most likely, than why is foreign office making inquiries?

Is it difficult to find out if employees got salaries or not?

 

[Major]

Is it difficult to find out if employees got salaries or not?

Pakistan Embassy employees get their salary in US Dollars.

Embassy's have high running cost, the employees get salary, rent, fuel and even entertainment that the diplomats have to provide is funded by the govt. So only someone from that ministry can tell if salaries are being made or not.

 

[Itachi]

This doesn't seem like hacking by some anonymous programmer but rather, some unpaid employees getting in to the system.

This is embarrassing to be honest.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Pakistan Embassy employees get their salary in US Dollars.

Embassy's have high running cost, the employees get salary, rent, fuel and even entertainment that the diplomats have to provide is funded by the govt. So only someone from that ministry can tell if salaries are being made or not.

Dont you have some kind of information act in pakistan where a civilian can ask the ministry to provide info regarding this?

 

[pillionrider]

Dont you have some kind of information act in pakistan where a civilian can ask the ministry to provide info regarding this?

It's interesting that you mention this. The RTI in India was brought in by the Congress and also later used against them. But they didn't try to mess with it unlike the BJP who first were upset that Modi's education claims were pulled up, and then realized their golmaals would be further exposed. Little wonder they reduced the powers of the RTI in 2019

Has the BJP done anything that has furthered accountability and democracy? What's the latest news on the billions amassed by that shady PM Cares fund?

What Modi has done is successfully show how great Vajpayee was and how much more competent and democratic the Congress were.

 

[Itachi]

It's interesting that you mention this. The RTI in India was brought in by the Congress and also later used against them. But they didn't try to mess with it unlike the BJP who first were upset that Modi's education claims were pulled up, and then realized their golmaals would be further exposed. Little wonder they reduced the powers of the RTI in 2019

Has the BJP done anything that has furthered accountability and democracy? What's the latest news on the billions amassed by that shady PM Cares fund?

What Modi has done is successfully show how great Vajpayee was and how much more competent and democratic the Congress were.

What that has got to do with this thread though?

 

[Giannis]

Shouldn't be tweeting this from the official diplomatic account.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

The embassy had posted another tweet saying all 3 social media accounts were hacked e.g. Twitter Fb and Instagram. Looks like either hacker was a genius cracking 3 different systems or the password was same for all accounts.
All in all embarrassing. Waiting for information and technology minister to provide proof of hackers from India using VPN of karachi. May be some more interesting name.

My guess is same password - aapneghabrananahihai

 

[cricketjoshila]

It's interesting that you mention this. The RTI in India was brought in by the Congress and also later used against them. But they didn't try to mess with it unlike the BJP who first were upset that Modi's education claims were pulled up, and then realized their golmaals would be further exposed. Little wonder they reduced the powers of the RTI in 2019

Has the BJP done anything that has furthered accountability and democracy? What's the latest news on the billions amassed by that shady PM Cares fund?

What Modi has done is successfully show how great Vajpayee was and how much more competent and democratic the Congress were.

One of the few good things congress did was the RTI act, well even a broken clock is correct twice in 24 hrs.

Competent and Democratic dont go with congress, they are dynastic and corrupt.

 

[pillionrider]

Competent and Democratic dont go with congress, they are dynastic and corrupt.

The BJP under Modi have already shown themselves to be far more incompetent.

Dynastic - plenty of examples, only difference is, it hasn't seeped into the highest position. Yet.

Corruption. Time will most likely prove that they are equally bad. My guess is, they are worse.

 

[Varun]

The BJP under Modi have already shown themselves to be far more incompetent.

Dynastic - plenty of examples, only difference is, it hasn't seeped into the highest position. Yet.

Corruption. Time will most likely prove that they are equally bad. My guess is, they are worse.

Does the ghaas-phoos duo of Amir Shah and Jay Shah not count?

 

[gani999]

To return to this thread...

Pakistan hardly has any economic or trade interests in Serbia. Not many Pakistanis living their either. So Serbia must be a backwater posting for Pak diplomats, with most of them being fairly junior and nothing much to do. It is quite possible that one of them may have developed the 'idle mind devil's workshop' syndrome, and tried something silly with the office's Twitter account.

 

[pillionrider]

Does the ghaas-phoos duo of Amir Shah and Jay Shah not count?

Not to derail this thread, just one last point....
I meant PM material. Like Nehru, Indira, Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as projected PM candidate.

But if you give these guys enough time, I guess we'll have the real Pappu, Jay Shah projected as future PM. Have you heard him speak )

 

[street cricketer]

Does the ghaas-phoos duo of Amir Shah and Jay Shah not count?

Harsh to accuse Jay Shah of nepotism. He has a background in cricket and is a professional cricketer.

 

[cricketjoshila]

The BJP under Modi have already shown themselves to be far more incompetent.

Dynastic - plenty of examples, only difference is, it hasn't seeped into the highest position. Yet.

Corruption. Time will most likely prove that they are equally bad. My guess is, they are worse.

BJP will never have dynastic issues at the highest levels because there is no such family in the BJP. Gandhi Nehru family holds the congress together, their leaders are loyal to the family not the party.

Your guess doesn't make facts.

Incompetent? They have done far better than the congress.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Does the ghaas-phoos duo of Amir Shah and Jay Shah not count?

Jay Shah is projected as next pm or CM?

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office on Sunday rejected reports of financial difficulties being faced by Pakistani missions abroad due to a shortage of funds, saying that all diplomatic missions were being provided "requisite resources".

Official sources, however, acknowledged the existence of official communications between the foreign office and its missions abroad on the issue of release of funds, though, they insisted that these were "simple routine and procedural matters".

"To say the government of Pakistan has no funds or shortage of funds for its missions abroad is simply absurd," a senior foreign office official told The Express Tribune while requesting anonymity.

The issue of reported shortage of funds came to the surface after Pakistani embassy in Serbia, using its official Twitter handle, flagged the problem.

The official Twitter handle of Pakistan's embassy in Serbia on Friday criticised the PTI-led government over record-breaking inflation and alleged non-payment of salaries for the past three months.

The tweet by the verified account of the embassy asked Prime Minister Imran Khan as to how long did he expect the government officials to remain silent in the face of “hyperinflation”. “[How long do you expect government officials to] keep working for you without being paid for [the] past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non-payment of fees,” it added. Is this Naya (new) Pakistan?"

However, the Foreign Office spokesperson, in a tweet, claimed that Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts of the country's mission in Belgrade were "hacked".

The Serbian embassy, in a separate statement, also claimed that its social media accounts were hacked and distanced itself from the critical tweets.

The embassy said that the accounts were hacked by someone using the desktop in Karachi. Later, the accounts were retrieved and controversial tweets were deleted.

But before the controversy died, a purported letter written by Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka surfaced on social media, suggesting the mission was facing shortage of funds to pay school fee of staff's children.

The emergence of the letter raised questions if the Serbian account was indeed hacked or there was some cover-up.

When approached, a foreign office official rubbished the claims of a shortage of funds while playing down the letter written by some missions seeking the release of funds.

"These are absolutely routine procedural matters. I can show you hundreds of such communications taking place every day between the foreign office and its missions abroad," he explained. "There was nothing new in it. The issue is being blown out of proportion."

The official said like every government department all diplomatic missions were allocated budgets as per their requirements. "Budgets are allocated against different heads and at times missions' expenses exceed against certain heads and hence they seek more allocations," the official said, adding school fee head was one of the major allocations at missions abroad.

"But all these communications are normal and routine affairs as we see in other government departments," the official claimed. The official made it clear such communications did not mean the government of Pakistan had no funds to run the missions abroad.

Meanwhile, in response to media queries, the spokesperson termed as entirely "baseless, irresponsible and malafide” the social media posts and related news reports in sections of the media alluding to financial difficulties faced by some Pakistan missions abroad.

"This deliberate disinformation attempt is outrightly rejected," Asim Iftikhar said in a statement.

"All Pakistan missions continue to be provided the requisite resources for effective functioning in accordance with relevant financial and budgetary rules and regulations," he added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2332592/fo-rubbishes-claims-of-funds-shortage

 

[James]

<b>The official Instagram account of Pakistan's embassy in Argentina was hacked, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Twitter post on Wednesday.</b>

“The Instagram account of the Embassy of Pakistan in Argentina has been hacked and has been reported to Instagram,” the Foreign Office statement said.

“Please note that all messages passed through this account are not from the Embassy of Pakistan in Argentina,” it further added.

An hour after FO's announcement, the official Twitter account of the Pakistan Embassy in Argentina said that the Instagram account had been recovered. "The Instagram account of the Embassy of Pakistan in Argentina was hacked a while ago. It has now been recovered," it said.

This is the second such incident as earlier this month, the official Twitter account of Pakistan's embassy in Serbia was also hacked.

In a series of tweets that were later deleted, the verified account of Pakistan's Embassy in Serbia had posted: "With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect that we official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to nonpayment of fees. Is this Naya Pakistan?"

Following the development, FO issued a clarification, saying that the messages being posted were not from the Embassy of Pakistan in Serbia.


From: Business Recorder

— — —

 

[MenInG]

There is an uproar in the Foreign Office after the ministry was not listed in the top 10 best performing ministries and divisions, prompting Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to question the criteria for performance evaluation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday rewarded top 10 best performing ministries and divisions with appreciation certificates.

The top ministries are communications, planning and development, poverty alleviation and social safety division, education and professional training, human rights, industries and production, national security division, commerce, interior and national food security and research.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was listed at number 11 and was not rewarded with any appreciation certificate. This led to a serious backlash in the FO. “We were certainly shocked to see that the foreign ministry was not even listed in the top 10 best performing ministries,” an FO official while requesting anonymity commented. The officer said the FO works in challenging circumstances and “often literally 24/7”. “But to see the Foreign Office being ignored like this is demoralising,” the officer added.

The resentment was so intense within the FO that compelled Foreign Minister Qureshi to write a letter to Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Establishment Muhammad Shehzad Arbab questioning the criteria for performance evaluation.

The copy of the letter available with The Express Tribune reveals that Qureshi raised serious concerns over not listing the foreign ministry among the top 10 ministries and divisions.

“While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been ranked at number 11 among performing ministries, I note with serious concerns that this ranking by the Peer Review Committee (PRC) did not correspond to the ministry’s demonstrated performance against the targets set in the performance agreement,” Qureshi wrote.

He then went to mention that of the 26 targets set out for the first quarter of the performance agreement, 22 targets were fully achieved by the ministry. Of the remaining targets, one was at 75-99% of completion stage and three were delayed for reasons explained to the PRC on October 27, 2021.

“I was informed by your letter of November 22 that the average completion rate of all ministries was 62 per cent whereas MoFA had achieved 77 per cent rate of target completion in the first quarter.”

The minister noted in the letter that of 24 targets set for the second quarter, 18 were fully achieved. Among the remaining targets, four were 75-99% of completion stage due to pendency on the part of other ministries/departments and two could not be pursued at all for reasons explained to the PRC on January 12, 2022. The PRC confirmed that the target completion rate of the ministry was 89.2 per cent quantitatively.

The ministry ensured that there was no pendency on its part during the review period.

The letter said in addition to demonstrating sustained commitment towards achieving the targets locked in the performance agreement, the ministry also completed several high impact activities during the review periods, which were not envisaged at the time of finalisation of the agreement. Their details including post-August 15, 2021 Afghanistan focused diplomatic outreach, help in evacuation of stranded foreigners and other initiatives were shared with the PRC by the foreign secretary on January 12.

“Hosting of extraordinary session of the OIC council of foreign ministers at a short notice of 45 days was a landmark achievement of the ministry during the review period and was duly acknowledged by the prime minister.”

Qureshi continued that no concern was raised about the quality of MoFA’s initiative/targets at the time of final approval of the performance agreement by PRC or at the time of peer review.

He raised certain questions about the belated introduction of rating ministries by the PRC through quantitative weightage (70 per cent based on achievement of PA targets) and qualitative weightage of peer review of the performance agreement.

“No modalities/guidelines for the 30 per cent qualitative review process have been shared with the ministries. What benchmarks were used by the PRC members for qualitative evaluation,” he asked.

“The criteria/competencies used for membership of the PRC are not clear/shared. The TORs of PRC are also not notified. What is the basis for having permanent membership of PRC? International best practices for peer review processes do not involve permanent members,” Qureshi wrote to the SAPM.

Many retired diplomats also raised their voice in FO’s favour.

“After many successes in foreign affairs, like OIC CFM on Afghanistan, coming OIC CFM, recent China visit, surely foreign ministry cannot be at number 11. What are we telling the world? There is a problem in this listing, [it] needs rectification,” former foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua tweeted.

Another former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said it was unfair not to include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the top 10 performing ministries. “Wondering if it was lack of understanding of the working of the Foreign Office whose work can’t be quantified or inter department prejudices,” Jilani tweeted.

Questions including seeking confirmation of the letter written by the foreign minister and reason behind not listing the foreign ministry among the top 10 best performing ministries and divisions were sent to SAPM Arbab but he did not reply till filing of this report.

The FO spokesperson also did not respond when approached to seek his reaction over the disquiet within the FO.

 

[MenInG]

In March this year, a high-ranking Pakistani diplomat faced serious allegations of human smuggling. The complainant against him is a former government servant who himself is into visa business. The documents he attached with the complaint ranged from emails and note verbale issued to different embassies to proofs of payment he made to the accused diplomat.

Dr. Israr Husain, a **-21 officer, is at the heart of this scandal. He was additional secretary (Europe) at the time the complaint was received against him. It was mostly related to his attempts to influence the European embassies in Islamabad to get visas for Pakistanis. He allegedly tried to send as many as 11 individuals to Spain. Before that, he was Pakistan’s ambassador in Czech Republic and his track record there was not clean either.

Tariq Javid Khan, the complainant dates back his story to the time Husain was in Czech Republic when he “made an offer to me to facilitate issuance of visit, work and residency visas for Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, Poland and South Korea. He also introduced me to the ambassadors of these countries in Pakistan.” Reading through the complaint is like touring through the world of human smuggling and the way it works.

The complainant wrote that he had a complete record of all payments made to Hussain in the form of bank receipts. Khan attached several of them as evidence, which has been seen by The News. In addition, Khan mentioned having videos/ voice/ text messages exchanged between him and Husain. The visas couldn’t be issued and Husain refused to return the money and allegedly threatened Khan of dire consequences in case the word went out. However, in the meanwhile, another opportunity arose.

Husain requisitioned a group of Qawwal from Pakistan in Prague (capital of Czech Republic). Khan said he arranged their tickets, accommodations and all other expenses there in Prague. Behind this show was an ulterior motive. A group of 10 Pakistanis also accompanied the cultural troupe. As many as Rs.1.5 million were collected from each of them with the promise that they would get work and residency permits in Prague, according to Khan’s complaint. Husain didn’t keep the promise and they were forced to seek asylum.

Khan then mentions Husain’s past behaviour that he came to know through his colleagues. He alleged that Husain was a persona non-grata in several of the countries in his previous postings. He has mentioned a few ambassadors who, he hopes, would give further credence to the charges he has levelled against Husain. Please contact, his complaint reads, the ambassador of Italy, the ambassador of Czech Republic and the Ambassador of Spain “who will be happy to confirm Mr. Hussain’s disorderly conduct and they will provide evidence regarding his continuous requests for the illegal issuances of visas.”

The News is aware of Husain’s recent request in March to the Spanish Embassy. This was related to a Supreme Court lawyer who intends to take along as many as 10 individuals who were purportedly his “associates.” After checking their credentials, an official of the Spanish ambassador returned to Husain. “According to the documentations submitted, including the letter of the influential advocate himself, they are not his associates but friends or assistants. None of them has travelled before and they don’t seem to comply with the requirements established by Schengen regulations. Because of your communications, we saw their cases with preference as normally there is a delay of 2 months but the Schengen regulations cannot be twisted.”

The ambassador of Czech Republic in Pakistan and the ambassador of Pakistan in Czech Republic, according to Khan, made a formal complaint to the foreign office regarding Hussain’s deceptive conduct. “An investigation was carried out by the Foreign Office, however, Mr. Husain was exonerated due to his batchmates being the investigators of the case,” Khan wrote. Incidentally, Khan is doing the same this time.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered a fact-finding inquiry to determine the veracity of allegations levelled by Khan, he has withdrawn his complaint apparently in an out-of-office settlement with Husain. Whether the ministry will proceed further on this remains to be known. “Since the allegations are specific in nature and evidence has also been shared, it is yet to be seen what the ministry does. Ideally, it should hold an inquiry. The ministry can’t stop doing that on the whims of a complainant. Rather, he should also be investigated,” said a well-placed official. Husain didn’t answer the questions sent by The News.

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday said it was “looking into” the allegation of indecent questioning by a member of its staff with an Indian woman at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, adding that it “has zero tolerance for misbehaviour and mistreatment”.

According to India Today, a Punjab University professor and department head alleged that she was asked uncomfortable questions by a staffer at the high commission when she went to apply for a visa.

“He asked me why I wasn’t married. How do I live without marriage, what do I do for my sexual desires,” the woman claimed, adding that the official persistently kept asking his questions despite her attempt to change the topic.

The professor was planning to visit Lahore to deliver a lecture at a university and to photograph monuments. She wrote to the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, asking the matter to be taken up.

DAWN

 

[ex-q-zit]

India Asks Pakistan To Look Into Alleged Sexual Harassment At High Commission

India has asked Pakistan to investigate alleged sexual harassment of an Indian woman inside the Pakistan High Commission premises here, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

The woman academician from Punjab last week accused some officials at the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission of making lewd remarks and resorting to sexual harassment.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the MEA has taken serious note of this complaint.

"We've raised the issue with Pakistani authorities and we have asked them to investigate the matter," he said at his weekly media briefing.

Mr Bagchi was replying to a question on the matter.

"We have also seen a statement by the Pakistan foreign ministry saying that they are looking into the case," he said.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said last week that the case is being looked into.

"We attach high importance to proper etiquette and behaviour towards all visa and consular applicants. All our diplomatic staff are under strict instructions to conduct themselves professionally," Ms Baloch said.

"There are robust mechanisms in place for redressal of all public grievances. There is zero tolerance for misbehaviour and mistreatment of individuals visiting our missions," the official said.

NDTV