ISLAMABAD: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, a career diplomat, will take over as new Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US) with effect from July 1, spokesperson of the Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
He will replace Masood Khan, who was given a three-month extension in contract in March which is set to expire on June 30. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh was appointed on a contract basis.
Meanwhile, Zahra Baloch has said that Asim Iftikhar has been appointed as Pakistan’s additional permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
She mentioned that these appointments had been under consideration for several weeks.
During a media briefing, a spokesperson from the Foreign Office announced Pakistan’s participation in the Doha talks, where Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani and Ambassador Obaid Nizamani, stationed in Kabul, will represent Pakistan.
This development followed days after the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution urging Pakistan to uphold democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law and probe alleged irregularities in the February 8 parliamentary elections.
A total of 368 members voted in favor of the resolution, while seven voted against it.
In response, the National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution on Friday condemning the US Congress’s action as “contrary to facts” and interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
Pakistan Foreign Office on Saturday also strongly criticized the US’s House of Representatives Resolution, and said that is an unsolicited interference in its internal affairs, which is neither welcomed nor acceptable.
