The controversy came to light when photographs of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s address at a UN Security Council session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly spread across the social media platform X, with users drawing attention to Junejo seated in the background. Several users also shared screenshots from her years-old Twitter (now X) timeline, which indicated support for Israel—a position in stark contrast to Pakistan’s enduring pro-Palestinian stance.
Following the social media outcry, Asif stated on X that only the Foreign Office (FO) could account for Junejo’s presence at the session. The FO later clarified that she was not part of Pakistan’s accredited delegation.
Subsequently, Asif discussed the matter on the Geo News program ‘Naya Pakistan’. When asked if he was “taken aback” by the FO’s statement, Asif emphatically responded: “I was taken aback; rather, I was a bit disturbed that such individuals could be with the delegation whom no one subsequently owns.” He also denied Junejo having authored PM Shehbaz’s speech for the 80th UN General Assembly session, further asserting that, as far as he knew, she held no official position, neither as an adviser nor a special assistant.
However, Junejo asserted in a post on X today that she had been working for the prime minister for many months.
She claimed: “My policy briefs, advice and points during the Pakistan-India escalation are all part of the record and preserved,” further stating that the premier had tasked her with “writing the UN speech.”
The London-based social media activist went on to claim that the PM himself had included her in the UN delegation as an adviser and that she was also issued a security pass.
“I worked with his team day and night. I travelled with him, stayed with his team in the same hotel and was also a part of his important meetings on the sidelines (of the UNGA session), such as the one with Bill Gates,” she said, adding that at another climate conference on the UNGA sidelines, she was seated with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar behind the prime minister.
According to Junejo, after the climate session, the protocol team escorted her to the AI session, where she sat behind Asif alongside a man she identified as Bilal. In her post, she also shared a photo of herself with Asif and Pakistan Crypto Council Chief Executive Officer Bilal Bin Saqib, as well as an image of her UN pass.
Junejo maintained that at the AI conference, Bilal continued to write a new speech, and “we had tea together afterwards.” She asserted: “We sat together for 40 minutes waiting for the car, and returned to the hotel together in the same car. Khawaja Asif sahib sat with me on the backseat of the car.”
Junejo claimed she was also at the UN “with the others” when PM Shehbaz was delivering his speech. “There, Khawaja Asif was sitting in front of me, and we all applauded together for the prime minister.”
According to her, the PM’s “historic speech was not only written by her, but it was teamwork.” Junejo had previously claimed to be a part of the minister’s speech-writing team since April.
In her post today, she asserted that her return flight was also booked beforehand, and the mission protocol team had dropped her at the airport.
She questioned, “Why is Khawaja Asif sahib issuing such statements now and under what agenda is he tarnishing a historic visit of his government?”
“The prime minister should ask him about this, as his authority has been challenged, not mine.”
In a similar post on X in English, she stated that Asif’s remarks and the FO’s post “have embarrassed Pakistan globally.”
She added, “If anyone attempts to malign my character or professional integrity, I reserve the right to pursue legal action in the UK.”
Minister Shifts Blame as Foreign Office Denies Authorization
When the controversy first surfaced, Asif, facing a barrage of criticism, publicly distanced himself from Junejo’s appearance with the delegation and pointed the finger at the FO.
In a post on X, the defence minister clarified that he had given the speech instead of PM Shehbaz at the UNSC session due to the latter’s other commitments.
Asif stated: “This woman or whoever sat behind me was and is at the discretion of the Foreign Office.” He continued: “Who is this woman? Why is she with the delegation, and why was she seated behind me? Only the FO can answer these questions. It is not appropriate for me to respond on their behalf.”
Subsequently, the FO issued a clarification, stating: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted queries regarding the seating of a certain individual behind the defence minister at a recent meeting of the UNSC.”
“To clarify, the individual in question was not listed in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the 80th UNGA session, signed by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister.”
“As such, her seating behind the defence minister did not have the approval of the deputy prime minister/foreign minister.”
Official sources confirmed to Dawn that while the FO did not issue the required letter of credence, Junejo joined PM Shehbaz’s entourage from Britain, where she had been staying at the same hotel.
Upon arrival in New York, Pakistan’s mission to the UN was directed by “a senior political leader” to issue a note verbale to facilitate her accreditation so she could attend meetings, including the UNSC debate, the Dawn report indicated.
The report added that the leader’s argument was that although she was not part of the official delegation notified by the FO for the session, she was part of the entourage. Therefore, the mission was asked to secure her accreditation.
A source categorically told Dawn that the FO did not even have prior knowledge of Junejo’s inclusion in the entourage.
Junejo Clarifies Position on Israel
Meanwhile, Junejo has also posted to clarify her stance on Israel.
In a post on X today, she said that the impression of her being pro-Israel was created based on a 2018 post on X. She countered: “Whereas, I have been writing against the massacre in Gaza and Netanyahu almost daily since 2023. But nobody sees that.”
She explained that her statements about Pakistan recognizing Israel were made during the Abraham Accords—agreements that normalised ties between Israel and multiple Arab states—and that she has consistently condemned Israel’s atrocities since its invasion of Gaza. “I will keep doing so,” she added, referencing a video of Pakistani delegates walking out during the recent UNGA session.
At the UNGA, delegates from several countries walked out, boycotting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.
Earlier, Junejo had shared screenshots on X of previous posts where she had called out Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Yesterday’s Dawn report mentioned that in her social media posts from London, Junejo had also said she was in possession of ‘secret files,’ raising questions about the security of such documents.
Junejo also addressed this matter in a post on X, stating: “There was a fire incident at the Churchill Hotel which left me panicked. I am disabled and was not assisted during evacuation. I carried hard copies of speech drafts and meeting notes—my personal intellectual property. These were sensitive but not state documents. I held no access to or custody of any official files beyond my remit.”
