NA resolution calls for recalling envoy, but Pakistan has no ambassador in France

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has no ambassador currently posted in Paris, as the last ambassador, Moin-ul-Haq, left France three months ago when he was transferred to China, The News reported on Tuesday.

The National Assembly had asked the government through a unanimous resolution that Pakistan should recall its ambassador in France in protest against the Islamophobia displayed by the French president.

Read more: Pakistan's parliament unanimously approves resolution condemning blasphemous French cartoons

Since Moin-ul-Haq’s transfer to China, Pakistan has no envoy in the French capital as the Foreign Office has not designated his replacement as of yet.

Foreign Minister Qureshi – who was among the movers of the resolution in the National Assembly on Monday evening – is aware of the fact that the Pakistan embassy in France is without an ambassador but he didn’t oblige the house by passing on the information amid the heat of discussion regarding the situation.

Read more: Pakistan summons French envoy to lodge protest over 'anti-Islam campaign'

Well-placed sources told The News that currently, Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi, who is deputy head of mission in the Paris embassy, is looking after the affairs of the mission being the senior-most diplomat in Paris.

The resolution did not speak of the expulsion of the French ambassador posted in Islamabad, as the step could represent an extreme reaction.