Special Representative to Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi came to the defense of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the backlash he received recently.
To clarify, FM Qureshi came under fire on social media for sitting in a “disrespectful manner” during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. Many Saudis found Qureshi sitting with one leg crossed and the other pointing in the direction of Al-Malki offensive. Taking to Twitter, they slammed the foreign minister.
“The Pakistani minister’s behavior during his reception of the Saudi ambassador was rude, disrespectful, and contradicted with diplomacy,” one Saudi Twitterati wrote.
“Frankly, if I were one of the Saudi ambassadors, I would have left,” another Saudi netizen tweeted.
Read more: Saudi Arabia announces financial support for Pakistan
تصرف الوزير الباكستاني خلال استقباله للسفير السعودي سيء وفيه من الوقاحة وعدم الإحترام ويتعارض مع الدبلومسية.
واعتقد ان تصرف الوزير الباكستاني كان متعمداً.وكان على الدبلوماسي السعودية ابداء ملاحظته الفورية حيال ذلك للوزير لإحراجه وفي حالة عدم التجاوب الاعتذار من اكمال اللقاء. https://t.co/B0k8HwlQKT— AboAbdullah A (@AA_almarshad) December 29, 2021
Pakistani Twitteratis too joined in and called the minister out. They condemned his “disrespectful pose” and demanded that he apologize to the Saudi Ambassador. On another note, some users also targeted the Saudi ambassador for sitting comfortably and not taking offense. They said that he “made a mistake if he did not warn him and express his displeasure”.
Qureshi sahab has back problems: Tahir Ashrafi
Reacting to the social media backlash for FM Qureshi, Tahir Ashrafi firstly clarified that there are different ways of sitting. Moreover, he said that FM Qureshi faces back problems due to which he often sits in that manner.
As for Pak-Saudi relations, Ashrafi said everyone is aware of the countries’ brotherly ties. The Saudi Ambassador has been in Pakistan for the last seven years. He receives respect at the official level and at the public level.
Read more: President Alvi and Saudi Amb converse on improving education quality
He also added that the backlash is all propaganda by those who are against Pak-Saudi friendly ties. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s ties are based on faith and harmony. Therefore, Pakistan can never disrespect Saudi Arabia like this, Ashrafi added. However, he also said that if any Saudi brother was hurt, then he can be apologized to.
أشاد رئيس مجلس علماء باكستان الشيخ طاهر محمود أشرفي بجهود المملكة العربية السعودية وقيادتها الرشيدة وأهميتم بالنسبة لأبناء شعب باكستان المحب للمملكة وقيادتها وشعبها العزيز ، ويحظى سفير خادم الحرمين الشريفين في إسلام أباد نواف بن سعيد المالكي بمحبة وتقدير وإحترام الجميع ، pic.twitter.com/gK1RogDSPr
— TahirMahmoodAshrafi حافظ محمد طاهراشرفى (@TahirAshrafi) December 31, 2021
He once again stressed on FM Qureshi’s back problems and said he often sits like this. Ashrafi said the manner in which this issue was raised on social media and international media is far from reality.