Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has announced to resign as High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan made the announcement during a reception organised by Pakistan High Commission in UK at a local hotel in London on Monday evening to celebrate the National Day of Pakistan, according to a message received here from London on Tuesday.
On this occasion, Hasan said, “It has been eventful 6-year tenure for me. I joined this assignment in 2008 after the gaping hole left in our life by the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who laid down her life for the restoration of democracy. I have had the pleasure to serve earlier as the High Commissioner from 1994 to 1996.”
“And I will be completing this assignment as the longest serving High Commissioner of Pakistan. Next week I would be handing over charge to my able Deputy High Commissioner Imran Mirza. I wish him and Mrs Aysha Mirza a successful stint,” he added.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan said, “It would not have been possible without the support of my wife Zarina, my colleagues at the Pakistan High Commission and its four Consulates and more importantly I have had the honour of serving five Prime Ministers.”
“I am in particular grateful to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for reposing his confidence in me. I must acknowledge with utmost gratitude that during two stints I have had enormous support from the governments of the day and their leadership in the United Kingdom. I have made friends in all places and they have stood by Pakistan and me,” he added.
The reception was attended by a large number of Lords, MPs, the British friends, Pakistani diaspora in the UK and media representatives.
The participants included Baroness D’SOUZA, Lord Speaker Hugh Robertson, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Secretary General Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma; Khaled Al-Duwaisan, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Former Speaker Baroness Boothroyd.
Deputy High Commissioner Muhammad Imran Mirza conducted the ceremony.
Hugh Robertson, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was the guest of honour and represented Foreign Secretary William Hague.
In his address he mentioned the strong ties between the two countries and said: “We are here to honour our past as we mark the National Day of Pakistan”.
He said the UK looked forward to forging even stronger ties with Pakistan.
Baroness D’Souza, Lord Speaker also spoke on the occasion about the existing goodwill between the two countries. She specifically appreciated the participation of women in various walks of life in Pakistan.
In his welcome address Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan paid tributes to the Muslims of South Asia who, under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, established their own separate homeland.
Jinnah’s vision for Pakistan was of a liberal, progressive and egalitarian democratic country where every citizen was to enjoy equal rights, freedom and opportunities, irrespective of caste, creed, colour or gender, said the High Commissioner.—APP