UK-based journalist Shama Junejo has claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally included her in Pakistan’s United Nations (UN) delegation as an adviser.
The controversy began when Junejo was seen sitting behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during his address at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session on artificial intelligence last week. Soon after, social media users highlighted her past tweets that showed clear support for Israel.
Following public criticism, Khawaja Asif issued a statement on September 26 through X (formerly Twitter), saying that the Foreign Office had decided who could sit behind him. The Foreign Office later clarified that Shama Junejo was not part of Pakistan’s accredited delegation.
On September 28, however, Junejo shared her own account on X, claiming she had been advising the prime minister for months. She stated that she had prepared policy briefs, worked on points during the Pakistan-India escalation, and even drafted parts of the prime minister’s UN speech.
“I worked with his team day and night. I travelled with him, stayed in the same hotel, and attended important meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA session, including one with Bill Gates,” she wrote.
Shama also shared a photo of her UN security pass, along with images featuring Khawaja Asif and Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council. She maintained that she was present at several official gatherings, including a climate conference where she sat with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
She further added that Khawaja Asif had accompanied her in the same car after the AI conference, noting, “We sat together for 40 minutes waiting for the car and returned to the hotel together.”
Junejo emphasized that the prime minister’s speech at the UNGA was the result of teamwork, and she had been part of the speech-writing team since April. She questioned why Khawaja Asif was now distancing himself from her role, calling it an attempt to undermine the government’s visit.
She also warned that any attempts to malign her character or professional integrity could lead to legal action in the UK.
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