The Turkish delegation is seen sitting in a mannered way while the Pakistani delegation seems to have taken no training for holding diplomatic meetings
Lahore (Pakistan Point News – 5th January, 2018) Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Turkey on his two-day official visit.
The prime minister was accompanied by his adviser on commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Planning Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and Assistant to the prime minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari.
While the visit is being termed successful, the Pakistani delegation has drawn criticism on social media for missing diplomatic etiquettes during the visit.
In a picture shared by journalists on Twitter, the Turkish delegation is seen sitting in a mannered way while the Pakistani delegation seems to have taken no training for holding diplomatic meetings as they sit uninterestingly. The prime minister himself is seen sitting with his legs crossed.
Journalist Salman Masood pointed this out on Twitter, saying, “Turks are sitting with proper diplomatic etiquette. Pak side unfortunately seems oblivious to diplomatic norms of how to sit in state meetings.”
Following him, other journalists and politicians also came out to criticise the delegation.
PPP Senator and former ambassador the US Sherry Rehman said it is upsetting to see Pakistan represented like this.
“Maybe there’s a good spin but I can’t see one. The Turks are sitting as per regular norms,and they’re a formal culture with serious traditions, from the Ottomans to Ataturk. What is our side trying to communicate ? Too much koolaid?” she wrote.
Journalist Waseem Abbasi said, “Body language and seriousness of Pakistani delegations VS Turkish one..Zulfi Bukhari most serious about Pakistan’s interest..”
Journalist Aamir Ghauri said a cursory look at the body language of both delegations - the Turkish and the Pakistani - expresses a lot.
“An organised, well trained, job-aware team meets with a bunch brought together for expediency. That’s why Turkey is where it is & Pakistan, where we are,” he added.
