Foreign Office denies role in Shama Junejo's presence in UN delegation

Amid speculation on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the woman seated behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during his address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) did not have the approval of Pakistan's authorities. The clarification comes amid a controversy over the presence of columnist Shama Junejo at the UNSC session on 24 September 2025. Critics accused the government of including her in the official delegation despite her alleged support for Israel. In response to the online outrage, defence czar Asif explained that he delivered the speech on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who could not attend due to prior commitments.