The foreign office has decided to continue with services of Pakistan High Commissioner (HC) in UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan till installation of a new democratic government after elections. The decision to allow Hasan to stay for the time being was taken in view of the immensely positive feedback from the Pakistani Diaspora in Britain on his performance, source told Pakistan Today.
Hasan, an experienced journalist, was appointed as HC by the PPP government in 2008 and has almost completed five years as Pakistan’s envoy in Britain. This is the second time Hasan is representing Pakistan in UK. Earlier, he served on the same position in Benazir Bhutto’s government during 1993-96. Hasan is the most popular diplomat among the Pakistani community for his rapport and easy access. Similarly, community leaders said he takes keen interest in resolving their problems irrespective of their political affiliation.
During his current tenure, Hasan effectively presented the case of Pakistan and defended various institutes of the country in difficult times, especially after the May 2011 Abbotabad and Salala incidents when British and foreign media carried anti-Pakistan stories. Hasan was the first Pakistani official to visit the bereaved families of three British-Pakistani youths who were killed in Birmingham in 2011 during the worst riots in Britain’s history. His efforts also defused the situation and averted a clash among various communities in Birmingham. British officials lauded his efforts in preventing racial tensions between Asian and African communities in UK.
Sources in London claimed Hasan also played an important role in perusing Malala Yousafzai’s family, not to seek asylum in Britain. Later, Pakistan’s government appointed Malala’s father as Education Attaché at Pakistan’s Consulate in Birmingham so that the family could live with Malala till her complete recovery.
Wajid to remain HC in UK until elections
