National

Ali Jahangir Siddiqui appointed ambassador-at-large for investment

June 14, 2019

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday announced the appointment of Ali Jahangir Siddiqui as ambassador-at-large for investment “in an honorary capacity”, according to a notification issued on Friday.

An ambassador-at-large is given special duties and not appointed to a particular country.

It is pertinent to mention that Siddiqui’s appointment as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States in the previous government had been met with severe criticism from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which was in the opposition at the time.

It had been argued at the time that Siddiqui did not have any prior experience regarding diplomatic missions and alleged that he had accountability cases pending against him.

It may be noted that the PTI had urged the interim prime minister to immediately withdraw notification regarding appointment of Ali Jahangir Siddiqui as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US.

In a May 29, 2018, letter, PTI’s Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry said Siddiqui’s appointment on the “world’s most important diplomatic post was an attempt to murder the national interest”.

It had claimed that the former’s political allegiance and affiliation with Sharif family and business relations with PM Abbasi’s family played a role in the appointment.

It had also pointed out mega corruption cases against Ali Jahangir Siddiqui.