Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has criticized the focus on the Afghan diplomat issue, deeming it trivial compared to the country’s more pressing concerns. Speaking informally to journalists at Adiala Jail, Khan argued that while the nation faces significant challenges, the government is fixated on minor matters.
Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emphasized that urgent attention is required for the country’s major issues. “We are facing serious problems, yet the focus remains on this,” he said.
Addressing the current political climate and the debate over constitutional courts, Khan noted that while he previously supported the Charter of Democracy—which included the establishment of constitutional courts—the context has changed. “At that time, it was about saving Justice Qazi Faez Isa. What’s happening now is against the Constitution,” he added.
Khan also warned that the upcoming Lahore rally would be a pivotal moment for his party, urging supporters to prepare for a decisive movement. “No matter what they do, we’ve instructed the entire party to get ready. It’s time to come out,” he declared.
The controversy surrounding the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, has sparked significant debate. Shakir faced backlash for remaining seated during Pakistan’s national anthem at the Rehmat-ul-Alameen Conference, an action deemed a breach of diplomatic decorum by many. Political analysts condemned the act as a disrespectful deviation from diplomatic norms.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch condemned the Afghan diplomat’s actions and stated that a strong protest is being conveyed to Afghan authorities in Islamabad and Kabul. The Afghan Consulate in Peshawar defended Shakir, citing the presence of music in the anthem as the reason for his decision to remain seated. They clarified that there was no intention to disrespect Pakistan’s national anthem and that the consul general would have stood if the anthem had been presented differently.
Pakistan has officially rejected this explanation, emphasizing that such behavior contradicts diplomatic protocol. The Foreign Office reiterated that disrespecting the host country’s national anthem is unacceptable and has lodged a strong protest over the incident.
