Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has fired a journalist for going to Israel along with a delegation of Pakistani Americans, the Pakistan Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on Monday.
Aurangzeb said that the journalist, state TV employee Ahmed Quraishi, went on a “personal trip to Israel and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has categorically rejected the notion of any delegation from Pakistan visiting Israel.”
Quraishi was part of a 15-member delegation of Pakistani expatriates that travelled to Israel earlier this month.
“There has been no change in Pakistan’s policy in support of Palestine. Our country’s policy is clear and in accordance with the orders of Quaid-i-Azam, no policy or action can be taken against the wishes of the people of Pakistan,” the Minister said.
Two weeks ago Quraishi, along with a group of Pakistani Americans, visited Israel and met with President Isaac Herzog in a visit sponsored by a pro-Israel civil society group.
Sharaka, which works to connect Israel with Gulf countries, sponsored the visit to promote Israeli-Pakistani relations.
In a tweet, Sharaka said it was “honoured to bring a delegation of Muslims and Sikhs from southeast Asia including the first Pakistani Jew allowed to travel to Israel to visit Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The delegates spoke to the President about their efforts to develop relationships with Israel.”
