Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to United Kingdom Sahibzada Ahmed Khan has caused an embarrassment for the country. The Pakistan envoy appeared drunk on stage at a television award ceremony which was organised in London. The envoy took over the mic from the hosts and began calling people and making speeches in an inebriated state. His incoherent speech which went on for several minutes at the IPPA Awards 2018 ceremony which was held at London’s O2 arena on September 9, has not only caused embarrassment for the country which has Islam as its state religion but also to the global audience which had a laugh at the expense of the Pakistani envoy. The audience in the video can be heard laughing heartily while the actors and hosts on stage too can be seen trying to stifle their laughter after listening to the lisps and mispronunciations of the Pakistan envoy. The lighthearted banter which he tries to enter into with an actor who struggled to understand his words is another embarrassing highlight from the event.
Look at the video, it’s quite funny:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNVY9rqPLaY
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi has taken strongly to this act committed by Ahmed Khan and he has been ask to give verbal and written replies to the foreign minister and the foreign secretary. He has also been called back to Islamabad to meet the senior officials and the Foreign Minister in person, his reply if deemed unsatisfactory could lead to his removal from the high commissioner position. It is important to note that this was his first ambassador level posting while he had earlier served in New York and Toronto as Pakistani counsel General in the past. Ahmed Khan has now become the second high commissioner from Pakistan to be called back within two months of appointment this year alone. Pakistan’s high commissioner to Australia Naila Chohan was also recalled by the Pakistani government for servant rights’ violation in Australia earlier this year in April.
Incidents like these causes major embarrassment at international levels, a country’s high commissioner represents the government of a country on foreign soil. The envoy is supposed to be the intermediary between his government and the country where he is positioned, appearing drunk and out of control is not the type of behavior expected from such an important figure. Adding to the fact that the envoy was from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which categorically brands alcohol and other drugs as taboo is another insult for the country. Sahibzada Ahmed Khan has caused embarrassment for his country and thanks to the power of the internet, this is not going anywhere, no matter how hard the Pakistani government tries to cover up the acts done by its envoys. This pure entertainment for others is a major embarrassment for the Pakistan government and a big dent to its ego.