PM tasked me for UN speech, says Shama Junejo amid controversy

Columnist Shama Junejo has claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif included her in Pakistan’s United Nations delegation as an adviser, while urging the premier to take notice of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks questioning her presence at the world body.

The controversy erupted on September 25 when Asif addressed a UN Security Council session on artificial intelligence. Photos from the event circulated on social media showed Junejo seated behind him, sparking criticism as old posts allegedly supportive of Israel resurfaced.

Clarifying the matter, Asif told reporters that he had spoken at the session on behalf of the prime minister and Junejo’s presence was a matter for the Foreign Office.

Also Read: Foreign Office distances itself from Shama Junejo row

“This woman or whoever sat behind me was and is at the discretion of the Foreign Office,” he said, while stressing his long-standing commitment to the Palestinian cause.

Junejo, however on Sunday, defended her role in the delegation and her broader record of work. “I had been working for Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for several months,” she wrote on X, sharing the picture of her UN card along with a photograph featuring Asif and Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal bin Saqib.

She further outlined her contributions during the UNGA visit, claiming the prime minister had tasked her with writing his speech for the UN while her name was also listed as an advisor “The prime minister assigned me the task of writing his speech for the United Nations, and included me as part of the official delegation. My name was officially listed as an adviser, and my security pass was also issued accordingly.”

Junejo claimed, she worked closely with the prime minister’s team throughout the visit and was also present at important meetings, including the one with Bill Gates. “I worked day and night as his team member. I travelled with him, stayed in the same hotel, attended important meetings — including the one with Bill Gates — footage of which was shown on television,” she said.

She added that she was also present at the Climate Conference. “At the Climate Conference, I was seated directly behind the prime minister, alongside Mr Ishaq Dar, whose ministry later tweeted that I was not part of the delegation,” Junejo said.

Read: Pakistan rebuffs India’s effort to malign it during UNGA session

She further claimed that after the climate event, she was escorted by the protocol team to the AI conference. “After the conference, the protocol team took me to the AI conference, where Bilal and I sat right behind Khawaja Asif the entire time. Bilal was even writing a new speech during the session,” she said.

Junejo maintained that the interaction extended beyond the conference. “We had tea together afterwards. 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,” she said.

She added that she was also present when the prime minister delivered his address at the UN. “On the final day, during the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN, I was present there with everyone. Khawaja Asif was sitting right in front of me, and we all clapped together for the Prime Minister,” she said.

Junejo emphasised that the speech was a team effort. “The Prime Minister’s historic speech wasn’t written by me alone — it was a result of teamwork, and everyone’s hard work was involved,” she said.

Also Read: PMD forecasts light to moderate rain, thunderstorms in Karachi

She also stated that her departure from New York had been scheduled beforehand. “My return flight had already been scheduled, and the mission’s protocol team personally dropped me at the airport,” she said.

Questioning the defence minister’s remarks, Junejo asked why such statements were being made, urging the Prime Minister to take notice of the situation, as it was his authority being challenged. “Now, why Khawaja Asif is making such statements, and under what agenda he is tarnishing his own government’s historic visit, is something the Prime Minister should ask him — because it’s his authority that’s been challenged, not mine,” she concluded.