Islamabad: The appointment of a junior officer as Secretary Foreign Affairs in the ministry of foreign affairs has led to early retirement of Abdul Basit, Pakistan High Commissioner to India.
Abdul Basit became victim of favoritism of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as some senior diplomats like Abdul Basit were ignored and a junior officer was appointed as Secretary foreign affairs.
Abdul Basit announced his early retirement against this discrimination and as a protest he sought approval from the Prime Minister regarding early retirement. His request for early retirement was accepted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He was set to retire from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April 2018.
The decision to appoint Tehmina Junjua as Secretary foreign affairs made Abdul Basit, Ghalib Iqbal, Ibrar Hussain and others unhappy. Meanwhile Sohail Mehmood has been appointed High Commissioner to India. According to sources, Azaz Ahmed Chaudhry was appointed Secretary Foreign Affairs over by subduing the right of Abdul Basit and he (Abdul Basit) was assured to be appointed as Secretary Foreign Affairs but later Tehmina Janjua was appointed on the said post. According to seniority, Abdul Basit is the most senior officer.
