ISLAMABAD, May 30: Pakistan Television (PTV) anchor Ahmed Quraishi has been sacked from the state television channel after backlash over his recent visit to Israel as part of an inter-faith peace delegation. The delegation also met with the Israeli president during their visit. Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday confirmed that the television anchor had been laid off and reaffirmed her government’s policy on the Israel-Palestine issue. Marriyum Aurangzeb pointed out that the Foreign Office has made it clear that no delegation from Pakistan has visited Israel, adding that the anchor went on the tour in personal capacity. The Information Minister said that there was no change in the country’s policy on Palestine. “The state’s position on the Palestine issue is clear and there will be no policy in contradiction with the people’s wishes and aspirations,” she added. Marriyum further said that Pakistan was committed to the traditional and principled position on the Palestine and Israel issue. “The world considers a two-state solution as the guarantor of lasting peace in the region,” she said, adding that the solution to Palestine and Kashmir issues is the responsibility of the international community. “Lasting peace will remain a dream till a just solution to both the issues. We will continue to support the struggle of Palestinians and Kashmiris for their self-determination,” Marriyum said. The federal minister also warned elements from taking any negative steps for cheap political fame by sacrificing the country’s national interest. Earlier, a video of the Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaking at World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos confirming a meeting with two Pakistanis had sparked anger on the social media and people demanded an explanation from the government. Although he did not name anyone, Herzog had maintained that both Pakistani nationals were permanently residing in the US and proud of their identities. Following an uproar on social media, the Foreign Office (FO) as well as the federal government had maintained in separate statements that the visit of two Pakistanis was organized by non governmental organizations (NGOs) based outside of Pakistan. Earlier, the foreign office in a statement had reiterated Pakistan’s clear and unambiguous stance on the Palestine issue as it denied that any “delegation from Pakistan” was visiting Israel. On May 12, a Pakistani expat Anila Ali had shared a photo on microblogging site Twitter and wrote that she was the first Pakistani to gift a book to Israeli president which was written by her father on the topic of Pakistan Movement. Later, more photos emerged on social media platforms which showed that the terminated PTV anchor was also part of a delegation which had met the Israeli president. – TLTP
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