- Activist insists she drafted premier’s speech whereas FO and Kh Asif deny official role
- Photos spark backlash; activist warns of legal action over character assassination
- Junejo claims she sat with Asif at AI session, worked on drafts with colleagues, and later returned to hotel with him in same car
- Clarifies Israel stance, denies holding official files; controversy continues to simmer
ISLAMABAD: The controversy over columnist and social media activist Shama Junejo’s presence at Pakistan’s United Nations engagements this week intensified on Sunday after she claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formally included her in the delegation as an adviser — contradicting denials by the Foreign Office (FO) and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
The issue first erupted when photos from Asif’s speech at a UN Security Council (UNSC) session on artificial intelligence (AI) showed Junejo seated in the background. Screenshots of her past social media posts expressing support for Israel quickly resurfaced, sparking criticism that her stance clashed with Pakistan’s longstanding pro-Palestine position.
As the backlash mounted, Asif publicly distanced himself from her presence, stating on X that “only the Foreign Office can explain.” The FO soon clarified that Junejo was not part of Pakistan’s accredited UNGA delegation, further adding that her seating behind the defence minister had no official approval.
سلامتی کونسل میں یہ تقریر وزیر اعظم کیونکہ مصروف تھے اسلئے انکی جگہ یہ تقریر میں نے کی۔ یہ خاتون یا کس نے میرے پیچھے بیٹھنا ھے دفتر خارجہ کی صوابدید و اختیار تھا اور ھے۰ فلسطین کے مسئلہ کے ساتھ میرا 60 سال سے جذباتی لگاؤ اور کمٹمنٹ ھے۔ ابو ظہبی بینک میں ملازمت کے دوران فلسطینی… pic.twitter.com/FkyCHz4fYY
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) September 26, 2025
However, Junejo directly challenged this version on Sunday. In a detailed post on X, she asserted that she had been working with the prime minister’s team “for months,” contributing policy briefs during the Pakistan–India escalation, and claimed responsibility for drafting Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA speech. She further alleged that the premier personally included her as an adviser in the UN delegation and that she was issued a security pass.
I have been working in service of Pakistan for many years.
I have advised Prime Minister @CMShehbaz for several months. During the recent Pak-India war and beyond, my policy briefs and strategic inputs are documented and preserved.
It was the Prime Minister himself who tasked… https://t.co/VyeIaABxNf pic.twitter.com/JxKqO8cyC6
— Dr Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) September 28, 2025
“I travelled with the PM, stayed in the same hotel, joined high-level meetings, and even accompanied him during sessions with leaders like Bill Gates,” she wrote. She also shared a picture with Asif and Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib as well as a copy of her UN pass.
Junejo said she sat with Asif at the AI session, worked on drafts with colleagues, and later returned to the hotel with him in the same car. “His current statements are disturbing — the prime minister’s authority has been challenged, not mine,” she added, warning of legal action if attempts were made to malign her integrity.
FO distances itself, minister passes the buck
When the matter surfaced, Asif insisted the FO was responsible, saying: “Who is this woman? Why is she with the delegation, and why was she seated behind me? Only the FO can answer.”
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… https://t.co/60w0te9hLX
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 26, 2025
The FO then stated: “She was not listed in the official letter of credence for Pakistan’s UNGA delegation signed by the deputy PM and foreign minister.”
According to reports, Junejo joined the PM’s entourage from London and, once in New York, was facilitated through a note verbale issued at the behest of a senior political leader. Though not officially accredited, this allowed her access to meetings, including the UNSC debate.
Clarifies stance on Israel
Junejo also defended herself against allegations of being “pro-Israel,” saying the perception stemmed from a 2018 post during the Abraham Accords. “Since 2023, I have been writing almost daily against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza,” she insisted, citing posts condemning Prime Minister Netanyahu and referencing Pakistan’s walkout during his UNGA speech.
میں ایک اکیڈیمک ہوں۔ میرے ۲۰۱۸ کے ٹویٹ کو لے کے یہ تاثر دیا جارہا ہے کہ میں پرو اسرائیل ہوں جبکہ میں ۲۰۲۳ سے تقریباً روزانہ غزہ کے قتل عام اور نیتن یاہو کے خلاف لکھ رہی ہوں۔ لیکن وہ کسی کو نظر نہیں آرہا۔
پاکستان کے اسرائیل کو تسلیم کرنے کے حوالے سے میرے بیانات عرب ممالک کے…— Dr Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) September 28, 2025
She further clarified reports about her carrying “secret files,” saying these were personal drafts rescued during a fire incident in her London hotel, and “not state documents.”
The row has left the government facing uncomfortable questions about delegation protocols and internal coordination during a week when Pakistan sought to project a united diplomatic front at the UN.
