Pakistan parliament passes resolution to recall envoy, but has no ambassador in France

Via a unanimous resolution, Pakistan's National Assembly on Tuesday asked the government to recall Pakistan's ambassador to France in protest against the French president's blasphemy.

However, Pakistan has no ambassador posted in Paris as the last ambassador, Moin-ul-Haq, left France three months ago when he was posted as ambassador to China.

Since then, Pakistan has had no ambassador in the French capital, as his replacement was not appointed by the Foreign Office.

Interestingly, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was one of the movers of the National Assembly resolution. He must be aware of the fact that the embassy of Pakistan in France is without an ambassador, but in the heat of debate about the situation, he did not oblige the house to pass on the details.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday summoned the French Ambassador, Marc Barety, in Islamabad, a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan accused French President Emmanuel Macron of attacking Islam by defending the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

The resolution didn't speak of the expulsion of French ambassador posted in Islamabad as this step could represent harsh reaction, reports The News.