Outgoing UN envoy not sacked, says FO
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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has credited Dr Maleeha Lodhi, outgoing Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York, for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s successful participation in the recent UN General Assembly session and denied that she has been sacked.
Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted on Friday that Dr Lodhi had “completed her tenure”.
The FO spokesman’s tweet came in response to the ongoing speculation about the reasons behind the change of the envoy in New York. Days after Prime Minister Khan’s return from the UNGA session, Dr Lodhi was replaced by Ambassador Munir Akram at the Pakistan mission at the UN headquarters. The change was part of a larger reshuffle in which a number of envoys were moved.
Spokesman credits Dr Maleeha Lodhi for PM’s successful participation in UNGA session
“There is no truth whatsoever in insinuations that Dr Lodhi was ‘removed’ for any reason,” Dr Faisal said.
Quoting Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the spokesman said the outgoing envoy “served Pakistan with distinction and commitment and organised the prime minister’s successful UNGA visit with skill and dedication”.
Dr Lodhi served as ambassador to the UN for nearly four-and-a-half years.
She too had soon after the announcement of the name of her successor said that she had “planned to move on after the UN General Assembly”.
Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2019
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Comments (57) Closed
Oct 05, 2019 08:03am
The urgency and timing of her removal would suggest otherwise. Ordinarily, she would have needed to follow up on the orders and action items of PM during his visit. To be removed next day after he left means that she was dismissed.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:15am
Sure. We also thought so too.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:15am
I thought it was Fawad Chaudry's photo.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:19am
Dr Lodhi has always been a very credible person and represented Pakistan with dedication and complete sincerity. Wish her all the success in future.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:20am
Whatever. Not much to say in this era of confusion
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Oct 05, 2019 08:22am
"Fired" is the more appropriate term.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:24am
Lodhi served well and garnered a lot of respect. Good luck to her.
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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Oct 05, 2019 08:26am
Dr Maleeha played a key role in PMIK's very busy and successful US UN tour. Thank you Ambassador.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:35am
Then why are u explaining
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Oct 05, 2019 08:39am
Her tenure was very well timed.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:41am
We believe you....
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Oct 05, 2019 08:49am
Ok we trust what you say. Matter over. Now move on. What about article 370?
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Oct 05, 2019 08:53am
Not Sacked but Showed the Exit Door
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Oct 05, 2019 08:56am
Something not right the way it was done soon after Ik un visit.
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Oct 05, 2019 09:10am
We judge you by what you do and not what you say.
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Oct 05, 2019 09:31am
Was her tenure four and a half year? Not four, not five, four and a half.
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Oct 05, 2019 09:36am
Why giving justification?
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Oct 05, 2019 09:39am
@Novoice, All the action able things will be carry on by the new ambasador to the UN.. Postings , Transfers are the part of Jobs
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Oct 05, 2019 09:40am
The lies just keep coming!
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Oct 05, 2019 10:23am
Diplomatic answer after sacking a person
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Oct 05, 2019 10:50am
Anyways her exit was expected. Now focus on the job left half done by her.
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Oct 05, 2019 11:46am
People will always jump to conclusions.
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Oct 05, 2019 12:05pm
Everyone must know that she is not sacked but politely removed. You are requested to believe this.
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Oct 05, 2019 12:06pm
Not sacked but asked to go through the back door - simply, you dont sack people straight way unless they are incompetent, abused the authority and involved in unethical matters. This is why it is said that 'there is no fire without smoke'.
(Note: I'm the original 'Anti-Corruption_Pakistani account holder for 3+ years. My impartial views are against injustice, inequality, hypocrisy and corrupt mafia without supporting any of the political parties).
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Oct 05, 2019 12:08pm
@Kiran,
None of indians' business!
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Oct 05, 2019 12:12pm
She has only been promoted to a new role commensurating to her past performance.
Ok
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Oct 05, 2019 12:51pm
No smoke without fire
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Oct 05, 2019 01:07pm
Good riddance as she was not successful in any mission pmik gave her. She questioned him a lot and therefore laid aside.
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Oct 05, 2019 01:15pm
Either she replaced or removed, it must be in better interest of Pakistan. She did nothing which could be apraised during her long tenure when the things are changing on daily basis drastically. Looking smart is not any good justification. Regards
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Oct 05, 2019 01:28pm
@Mian, article 370 is gone. Now move on. What about economy?
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Oct 05, 2019 01:30pm
@bhaRAT©, you interfere in ours we in yours
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Oct 05, 2019 01:44pm
She was not sacked but terminated without prejudice. After the UN fiasco someone had to take the fall.
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Oct 05, 2019 01:52pm
Promoted?
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Oct 05, 2019 02:06pm
However much the FO tries to smoothen the transfer, the timing of the change and the replacement is proof of the reason for the change
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Oct 05, 2019 02:11pm
@Fastrack, then why Reshuffle ?
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Oct 05, 2019 02:50pm
@bhaRAT©, mr Rat very much India’s business from the day she she showed a fake picture about India to the UNGA her actions are out business. And keeping a tab on our eccentric and radicalised neighbour is very much our business and wisdom.
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Oct 05, 2019 02:53pm
@Antman, because people are speculating.
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Oct 05, 2019 02:56pm
Kicked out....
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Oct 05, 2019 02:57pm
@Vikas,
RSS Nazi fascists have no business yapping about "radicalised neighbour"!
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Oct 05, 2019 02:58pm
A very thin line of demarcation exists between sacking and removing.
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Oct 05, 2019 03:21pm
Definitly she will speak after sometime.
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Oct 05, 2019 03:57pm
The news was presented in a way to create some awkwardness for her. Not fair, but then, it achieved the target of keeping the issue at top level for some days if that was intended.
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Oct 05, 2019 05:34pm
What was her appointed term limit.
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Oct 05, 2019 05:35pm
Never hard of fractional term of appointment. It is only possible to deceive people by the PTI. Dr Lodhi is a diplomat of very high integrity who garnered respect from all quarters.
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Oct 05, 2019 05:51pm
Salute to Dr Lodhi for her service to Pakistan. She has made us very proud with her service at a very difficult time.
Wish her a very happy life
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Oct 05, 2019 06:16pm
Let us give a chance to some other people also. she might have been good, but that does not mean a lifetime appointment for anyone.
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Oct 05, 2019 07:32pm
She wasn't sacked. Just kicked off.
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Oct 05, 2019 07:40pm
She’s done a great job a well liked and respected person
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Oct 05, 2019 07:48pm
What kind of tenure is 4 and half years? She was sacked, pure and simple, by a man who was known for literally beating up women and now he has beaten, figuratively, Ms Lodhi.
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Oct 05, 2019 08:10pm
Not sacked? Before such explanation, I was also of the same view.
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Oct 05, 2019 09:23pm
It is not true, she was. However, that is a legitimate right of the government, so what is the big deal?
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Oct 05, 2019 10:43pm
A respected Pakistani TV commentator has said Maleeha Lodhi was shown the door because she was having an affair with a staffer under her whose tenure she kept getting extended. Thus she was not "sadeek and ameen" as required to be, by the laws of Pakistan for any government post.
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Oct 05, 2019 11:24pm
Now your turn. You just read the written script and thats it. No any improvements reflected during your years working in Foreign Office.You also worked during last PMLN tenure.
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Oct 06, 2019 03:12am
OK what if she is sacked, why so much commotion? every government has right to replace the key positions, people come and go that's the way it was, is and will be in every government.
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Oct 06, 2019 05:31am
Yes, she was fired unceremoniously. She was not given an honorable exit.
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Oct 06, 2019 06:34am
Is this the same Munir Akram who had been accused of smashing a woman's head and went free because he had connections?
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Oct 06, 2019 08:05pm
@M. Siddique, Yes, same connection has brought him back to advocate for Human Right?
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