Former Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari has criticised Ahmed Quraishi for visiting Israel, saying that he has a pro-Israeli agenda and targets Imran Khan’s independent foreign policy.
Taking to Twitter, she said, “Shocking to see Ahmed Quraishi in Israel because he not only works for PTV but is closely linked to State institution of sensitive nature. For over a year, he has been pushing a pro-Israeli agenda and targeted Imran Khan’s independent foreign policy! This seems to be part of the US regime change conspiracy agenda.”
According to foreign media reports, a Pakistani-American delegation visited Israel last week to promote Israeli-Pakistani relations.
Read more: Building ties with Israel part of US conspiracy: Shireen Mazari
The visit was sponsored by a pro-Israel civil group Sharaka, established in 2020 after the signing of The Abraham Accords and recognition of Israel by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
Sharaka, in a tweet, said it was “honoured to bring a delegation of Muslims and Sikhs from southeast Asia including the first Pakistani Jew allowed to travel to Israel to visit Israeli President Issac Herzog. The delegates spoke to the President about their efforts to develop relationships with Israel.”
Sharaka was honored to bring a delegation of Muslims and Sikhs from southeast Asia including the first Pakistani Jew allowed to travel to Israel to visit Israeli President Issac Herzog. The delegates spoke to the President about their efforts to develop relationships with Israel pic.twitter.com/mMkBxQS4fT
— Sharaka – شراكة (@sharakango) May 10, 2022
The Pakistani delegation was headed by a Pakistani-American lobbyist in the US, Aneela Ali. The panel comprised Pakistanis as well as Muslims from other countries. A foreign media outlet said, “the delegation met top Israeli leadership including Israeli President. Some ‘famous’ faces from Pakistani media fraternity are also part of the delegation. Some even work for state media.”
The delegation included Ahmed Quraishi, who happens to be an employee of the state TV.
Responding to the criticism, Ahmed Quraishi tweeted: “Dr Shireen Mazari, today’s self-appointed top PTI anti-Israel crusader, was DG ISSI (Institute of Stategic Studies Islamabad) in 2005 when her boss, then FM Kasuri, held first official Pakistan-Israel meeting in Turkey, after which Israel waived import license requirement for for Israeli businessmen trading with Pakistan, saved her job by not objecting … to her boss … and continued in her position until 2008.”
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He said, “As Prime Minister Imran khan was ready to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, used personal and family contacts as conduit. Changed track only when his government became unstable due to bad governance. We might see new information emerge regarding this.”
Dr. Shireen Mazari, today's self-appointed top #PTI anti-#Israel crusader, was DG ISSI in 2005 when her boss, then FM Kasuri, held first official #Pakistan–#Israel meeting in #Turkey, after which Israel waived import license requirement for 🇵🇰; saved her job by not objecting. /1 https://t.co/7CwScv60l7 pic.twitter.com/5yKUgaeHwZ
— Ahmed Quraishi (@_AhmedQuraishi) May 15, 2022
In turn, Mazari said, “Neutrals feeling heat over visit to Israel by Ahmed Quraishi so are making his boy target Imran Khan with baseless charges. I will repeat DGISPR do not push us to speak out on many issues where we are still silent!”
“1st Ahmed Quraishi Kasuri never visited Israel like you have done! 2nd don’t lie brazenly saying I kept quiet when Kasuri met Israeli FM at an international moot. I actually wrote on it in The News in 1st week Sept ’15. As DG ISSI I also criticised Musharraf government on Dr AQ Khan & centrifuges including in columns in The News, organised protest march with Nasim Zehra in support of judiciary as DG ISSI! Have always spoken my mind on issues including criticising government. Did so viz MOFA on Kashmir also as u know! So feel free to criticise but with facts!,” she said.
Netizens have sided with Shireen Mazari in this war of words. A large number of Pakistanis believe that Imran Khan was ousted as a Prime Minister through a no-confidence vote last month because he wanted to introduce an independent foreign policy, which upset the US, Israel, and India. Khan has repeatedly said the no-confidence vote was a foreign conspiracy, and the US funded the opposition to buy his allies.
Isreal so far has established diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain.