Sherry Rehman refuses to resume duties as Pak Envoy

Islamabad: Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, has refused to resume her duties following the opposition parties` demand for immediate removal of envoys appointed on political grounds ahead of the next general elections.

Sources privy to this development told The Nation that Rehman, who is in Pakistan these days, would stay back until a caretaker government was put in place, reports The Nation. A few days ago, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry, Nisar Ali Khan, demanded immediate removal of all the ambassadors appointed on political grounds, with a specific reference to Sherry Rehman, and Pakistan`s High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hassan - both Pakistan Peoples Party leaders. Khan was of the view that both these envoys could manipulate the overseas voters, and hence cause damage to the PML-N `s vote bank in the countries of their postings. According to sources, Rehman, during her meetings with the president and prime minister had raised her apprehensions about the objections being raised against her by the opposition parties, and expressed her inability to resume her duties before getting some assurances from the caretaker prime minister. ANI