Controversy Surrounding UN Delegate Shama Junejo Deepens as She Claims Inclusion as PM’s Adviser

The controversy surrounding the supposed inclusion of columnist and social media activist Shama Junejo in Pakistan’s delegation to the United Nations this week took a new turn on Sunday when she claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had included her among the delegates as an adviser.

The controversy had surfaced when photos from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s address at a UN Security Council session on artificial intelligence (AI) spread like wildfire on social media platform X, with users pointing to Junejo sitting in the background. The issue intensified as users shared screenshots from her Twitter (now X) timeline from several years ago, expressing support for Israel — a position sharply at odds with Pakistan’s longstanding pro-Palestinian stance.

Ministerial and Foreign Office Distancing

After the social media furore, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly distanced himself, saying on X that only the Foreign Office could explain Junejo’s presence at the session. Subsequently, the FO clarified that she had not been part of Pakistan’s accredited delegation.

Khawaja Asif also spoke about the matter on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’. When asked whether he was “taken aback” by the FO’s statement, Asif emphatically said: “I was taken aback, rather I was a bit disturbed that such people could be with the delegation whom no one owns later.” He further stated that as far as he knew, she did not have any official position, be it of an adviser or a special assistant.

The FO’s clarification added that the “individual in question was not listed in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the 80th UNGA session, signed by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister.” It concluded: “As such, her seating behind the defence minister did not have the approval of the deputy prime minister/ foreign minister.”

Junejo’s Counter-Claims of Official Role and Access

However, Junejo claimed in a post on X today that she had been working for the prime minister for the past many months. She asserted: “My policy briefs, advice and points during the Pakistan-India escalation are all part of the record and preserved,” and further claimed that the premier had assigned her the task of “writing the UN speech.”

The London-based social media activist went on to claim that the PM himself had included her in the UN delegation as an adviser and that she was also issued a security pass. She detailed her movements, stating: “I worked with his team day and night. I travelled with him, stayed with his team in the same hotel and was also a part of his important meetings on the sidelines (of the UNGA session), such as the one with Bill Gates.” She added that at another conference on climate on the UNGA sidelines, she was sitting with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar behind the prime minister.

According to Junejo, the protocol team escorted her to the session on AI, where she sat behind Asif alongside a man she identified as Bilal. She maintained that at the AI conference, Bilal continued to write a new speech and “we had tea together afterwards.” She further maintained: “We sat together for 40 minutes waiting for the car, and returned to the hotel together in the same car. Khawaja Asif sahib sat with me on the backseat of the car.”

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Sources Confirm Unaccredited Inclusion in Entourage

Official sources confirmed to Dawn that while the FO did not issue the required letter of credence, Junejo joined PM Shehbaz’s entourage from Britain, where she had been staying at the same hotel. A Dawn report stated that on arrival in New York, Pakistan’s mission to the UN was directed by “a senior political leader” to issue a note verbale for facilitating her accreditation so that she could attend meetings. A source categorically told Dawn that the FO did not even have prior knowledge about Junejo’s inclusion in the entourage.

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Clarification on Israel Stance and Document Security

Meanwhile, Junejo has also posted about her stance on Israel. She said that an impression of her being pro-Israel was created on the basis of a 2018 post on X. “Whereas, I have been writing against the massacre in Gaza and Netanyahu almost daily since 2023. But nobody sees that.” She said her statements about Pakistan recognising Israel were given during the Abraham Accords, adding that she had always condemned Israel’s atrocities since its invasion of Gaza.

Regarding the previous mention of ‘secret files,’ Junejo clarified the matter, saying: “There was a fire incident at the Churchill Hotel which left me panicked… I carried hard copies of speech drafts and meeting notes — my personal intellectual property. These were sensitive but not state documents. I held no access to or custody of any official files beyond my remit.”

Challenge to Defence Minister and Legal Threat

Junejo concluded by questioning Khawaja Asif’s motives: “Why is Khawaja Asif sahib issuing such statements now and under what agenda is he tarnishing a historic visit of his government?” She added that the prime minister “should ask him about this, as his authority has been challenged, not mine.” She ended her post in English by stating that Asif’s statements and the FO’s post “have embarrassed Pakistan globally“ and warned, “If anyone attempts to malign my character or professional integrity, I reserve the right to pursue legal action in the UK.”

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