ISLAMABAD; A political storm has erupted after columnist and social media personality Shama Junejo claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally assigned her to prepare his United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech and included her in Pakistanās official delegation.
In a statement on X, Junejo said she had been working with the prime ministerās team for months, contributing policy briefs and strategic inputs. āIt was the PM himself who tasked me with drafting his UNGA speech and included me in the delegation with an advisor-level pass,ā she wrote.
Her claims emerged amid controversy after she was spotted behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif at the UN Security Council (UNSC) session on September 24. Old tweets allegedly sympathetic to Israel resurfaced, prompting backlash. The Foreign Office later clarified that her presence was not officially approved.
Junejo, however, insisted she participated in key sideline meetings, including one with Bill Gates, attended the AI Summit, and was seated with ministers at the Climate Conference. She maintained her role was part of āteamwork,ā but said she contributed meaningfully.
Criticising Khawaja Asif for questioning her presence, Junejo accused him and the FO of āundermining the PMās authorityā and embarrassing Pakistan internationally.
On allegations of mishandling documents, she clarified she only carried her own drafts and research notes, not official files.
Responding to resurfaced tweets, she said her academic work during the Abraham Accords was being distorted. āI never supported recognition of Israel. Since Gaza, my stance has been morally clear ā I condemned Netanyahu as a war criminal and demanded a ceasefire.ā
Junejo warned that attempts to malign her would be met with legal action in the UK.
