In what can be termed a historic move, Prime Minister Imran Khan has removed the ambassador to Saudi Arabia and recalled six other diplomats over complaints of diaspora.
On the orders of Imran Khan, ex-ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Raja Ali Ijaz, was removed and placed under suspension, immediately. Besides this, the staff deployed in consulates and embassy in the Gulf state has been recalled as well.
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The prime minister has ordered a probe into the complaints against the diplomatic mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has ordered the inspection commission to look into the matter and submit a report in 15 days.
Exclusive & Historic: PM Imran Khan’s directives on complaints of corruption against the Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and mistreatment of Pakistani Labour at the hands of the embassy staff. Also inlcudes suspension order of the Ambassador Raja Ali Ijaz. pic.twitter.com/EpTXqTzTYI
— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) April 29, 2021
PM Khan said he learned that the diplomatic mission was not addressing the issues of the copious labor class in Saudi Arabia.
He also expressed displeasure on Pakistan’s diplomatic missions for maltreating the labor class in the Gulf countries. The premier termed them ‘special people’ who worked hard in tough living conditions to feed their families back home.
State Bank of Pakistan reported that a major chunk of remittances received between July 2020 and March 2021 was sent from Saudi Arabia, marking over $5.5 billionduring the span.