World leaders gathered in New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), convened from 23–27 and 29 September 2025. The session marks eight decades since the UN’s founding, with debates focusing on interlinked global challenges. Pakistan’s leadership was actively represented, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address emerged as one of the most watched speeches on the UN’s official YouTube channel, garnering 419,000 views within 24 hours.
The Prime Minister’s speech at UNGA received widespread praise across the Muslim world. He strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling for a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds as its capital. Sharif also highlighted recent Pakistan-India skirmishes and invoked the case of Hind Rajab, the Palestinian child killed by over 300 bullets, to underline the brutality of Israeli aggression. Outlets such as Al Jazeera, TRT World, and the State of Palestine’s official X handle amplified his remarks, framing Pakistan as an assertive voice in global advocacy for Palestinian rights.
However, the Pakistani delegation was simultaneously drawn into controversy. Attention centered on the presence of Doctor Shama Junejo, who was seated behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a UNGA panel session on Palestine. Junejo, a policy advisor holding a degree in Diplomacy, has attracted scrutiny for her social media commentary. Her past posts reflected pro-Israel leanings, including arguments in favor of Pakistan’s recognition of Israel and interactions with individual linked to backchannel visits to Tel Aviv.
Interestingly she was sitting behind Khawaja Asif who is publicly positioned as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. This attracted heat towards the Defence Minister as well. The Defence Minister denied prior knowledge of her inclusion, attributing the matter to the Foreign Ministry. In turn, the Foreign Ministry clarified that no official letter of credence was issued in her name, nor did it authorize her participation in the session. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar publicly reiterated this position via an X repost.
Junejo however stated that she had been engaged as a speechwriter to the Prime Minister, citing her policy consultancy experience with the UK government. Earlier posts on her X account signaled that she was residing at the Churchill Hotel in New York, the same venue housing Pakistan’s official delegation, indicating her proximity to the Prime Minister’s team. While not an explicit clarification during the controversy, these posts reinforced public perceptions that she was embedded within the official mission.
Her remarks about access to sensitive files and her visible proximity to the Prime Minister sparked further concern, with speculation circulating about her advisory role. Prominent journalist Ajmal Jami has indicated that Junejo has pledged to address the controversy in an upcoming media appearance.
While the Prime Minister’s speech at UNGA significantly elevated Pakistan’s diplomatic standing and resonated positively across the Muslim world, the episode underscores persistent challenges in managing optics, transparency, and cohesion within Pakistan’s official delegations at high-profile international platforms.
