Domestic Violence, Threats To Nuke US Army And More: Meet Pakistan’s New Permanent Envoy To The UN

Pakistani diplomat Munir Akram who has been appointed as the next permanent envoy to the United Nations, has notched a string of controversies under his belt which includes being accused of assaulting his girlfriend and threatening to nuke the US Army.

Getting Appointed The UN Permanent Envoy

Pakistan’s incumbent permanent representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi was recalled by the Imran Khan after purportedly failing to sell to the world its narrative over Kashmir. She was appointed to the post in 2015.

Her replacement was - Munir Akram who had previously served as the permanent envoy between 2002 and 2008.

A String Of Controversies

Akram’s appointment came as a surprise for various analysts who pointed out his radical views and the fact that he had in the past been accused of domestic violence by his girlfriend.

Domestic Violence Allegations

On 8 January 2003 the New York City police received a distress call from a woman named Marijana Mihic who alleged that her boyfriend Munir Akram had smashed her head into a wall and hurt her arm.

This was reportedly a result of Akram trying to prevent Mihic from leaving their home after an argument.

As Akram was enjoying diplomatic immunity, the US State Department then requested the Pakistani authorities to withdraw it so that it could prosecute him under misdemeanour assault charges.

The investigation though was dropped a month later after the couple reportedly reconciled and Mihic withdrew her charges.

Threatening US Army With Nukes

In an article written for a Pakistani newspaper, Akram had tried to whip up the nuclear rhetoric by threatening to nuke the US army in Afghanistan.

In the article Akram wrote that, “If during such a crisis, Pakistan’s strategic command believes that the US military strike is aimed to capture or destroy its nuclear and delivery capabilities, it may feel compelled to use rather than lose these capabilities”.

Anti-India Rhetoric

As per various reports, Akram maintains a strong anti-India position and regularly indulges in vitriol against India. Soon after taking over as the UN permanent ambassador in 2002 Akram had threatened to use nukes against India as well.

He has also been a big critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he has described as a “Hindu fundamentalist” and a “reckless warmongerer”.

Appointment Exposes Pakistan’s Failure?

While supporters of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have touted his US visit as “the most successful foreign campaign by a Pakistani prime minister”, the abrupt ouster of Lodhi and appointment of Akram has raised questions on the “success” of Khan’s campaign.