ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Tuesday said that the act of disrespecting Pakistan’s national anthem by the Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson was responding to media queries regarding the disrespect of Pakistan’s national anthem by the Acting Consul General of Afghanistan at an event in Peshawar.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the disrespect of the host country’s national anthem is against diplomatic norms. The Spokesperson said, “We are conveying our strong protest to the Afghan authorities both in Islamabad and Kabul.”
Earlier, Afghan Consulate officials demonstrated extreme indecency and gross violation of diplomatic norms at a ceremony in Peshawar on Tuesday.
Officials of the Afghan Consulate were invited by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to the Rahmat-ul-lil-Aalameen Conference in Peshawar.
Afghan Consul General Mohibullah Shakir remained seated, while all attendees, including KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, stood up from their seats when Pakistan’s national anthem was played. The Afghan diplomat’s act blatantly disregarded diplomatic protocol while shamelessly sitting in his seat.
In a clarification message over the unusual happening, Afghan Consulate Peshawar spokesperson Shahid Ullah said that the consul general’s act was not meant to “disrespect” or “profanation” of the Pakistani anthem.
