RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has appointed his special assistant, Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, as Pakistan's new ambassador to United States, it was learnt.

In August 2017, Siddiqui was appointed the special assistant to the prime minister on economic and business matters with the status of minister of state.

Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal, however, expressed his inability to confirm or deny the newly made ambassadorial appointment, saying, "I am not aware of any such development."

"This is an administrative matter. I don't have details regarding Ambassador Aitzaz Chaudhry," he told his weekly media briefing on Thursday when his comments were sought on possibility in extension of Ambassador Chaudhry's service.

Opposition political parties reacted strongly to the decision and criticized the government.