Act of disrespecting of the national anthem by Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible: Mumtaz Zahra Baloch


ISLAMABAD, Sep 18 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch says the act of disrespecting of the national anthem by Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was responding to media queries regarding the disrespect of national anthem by the Acting Consul General of Afghanistan at an event in Peshawar.

The Spokesperson said the disrespect of host country’s national anthem is against diplomatic norms. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said we are conveying our strong protest to the Afghan authorities both in Islamabad and Kabul.

It is worth mentioning here that Afghan Consulate officials demonstrated extreme indecency and gross violation of diplomatic norms at a ceremony in Peshawar.

Officials of the Afghan Consulate were invited by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur to the Rahmat-ul-lil-Aalameen Conference in Peshawar.

Acting Afghan Consul General Mohibullah Shakir remained seated during Pakistan’s national anthem, blatantly disregarding diplomatic protocol and shamelessly sitting in his seat.

By not respecting the national anthem, Mohibullah Shakir declared that he has no respect for Pakistan and the Pakistani nation.

Meanwhile, the credentials of Afghan official Mohibullah Shakir, who disrespected the national anthem in Peshawar, are not complete.

The sources have confirmed that Mohibullah Shakir neither has an Afghan passport nor any other document.

The sources further said that he and his family returned to Afghanistan after getting financial assistance and ration in 2015 on POR Card.

The POR Cards are expired since long and all Afghan nationals including Mohibullah Shakir are staying illegally in Pakistan because the Interior Ministry has not given any extension.