Observer Report
New York/Karachi
Munir Akram took charge as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations on Saturday. Akram replaces outgoing ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi who served as Pakistan’s envoy to the UN from 2015 to 2019.
Akram told media he had taken charge of the post at a time when Pakistan was facing several challenges.
Akram, who has previously served at the same post from 2002 to 2008, would be stationed at the UN’s New York headquarters. He specialises in multilateral diplomacy with considerable experience over the years at the UN’s New York and Geneva chapters.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Action Forum has sought the removal of Munir Akram as Pakistani’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, terming his reappointment “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and liable to be struck down”. Akram replaced Dr Maleeha Lodhi shortly after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s campaign at the UNGA in September.
The petition, filed by WAF in the Sindh High Court, stated that the reappointment violated Section 14(1) of the Civil Servants Act 1973.
