Palestine rubbishes reports of its envoy to Pakistan being reinstated

Reports of Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan Walid Abu Ali being reinstated are false and he is very much in Palestine as of now, said Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

“We deny this information. Our ambassador in Pakistan is in Palestine and our position was declared by our official statement which we have published last week,” Palestinian Foreign Ministry clarified.

Earlier in the day, Pakistani media outlets reported that Palestine has reinstated its ambassador to Pakistan Walid Abu Ali after he was recalled for attending an event of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, also a UN-designated terrorist.

An article published in Geo News said, “The Palestinian president has reinstated Ambassador Walid Abu Ali and he will return to Pakistan on Wednesday to resume his duty.”

Also Read | Palestine reinstates envoy to Pakistan who shared stage with Hafiz Saeed, Pakistani media reports

The report further said Ali was reinstated on the recommendation of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi.

“I requested Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the country’s Chief Justice to reinstate Walid Abu Ali, in view of the ambassador’s services rendered to Pakistan,” Geo News quoted Ashrafi as saying.

However, Palestine Embassy in New Delhi rubbished all the reports and said, "We don't know from where you got this information about Palestine Ambassador to Pakistan being reinstated. As per our knowledge, he is very much in Palestine as of now."

Earlier on December 30, Palestine had recalled Ali after India's protest terming his meeting with Hafiz Saeed as “unacceptable.”

"We are supporting India in its fight against terrorism and because of that my Government decided to directly call our Ambassador to go back home," Palestinian Ambassador to India said.