LONDON – UK Foreign Office Minister for the Pacific and the InternationalEnvironment Lord Zac Goldsmith faced backlash from his government after hespoke in favour of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan after hisouster from the office through no-confidence vote.
Reports said that British PM Boris Johnson’s office slammed the ministerfor making intervention in Pakistan’s domestic political affairs.
Lord Zac Goldsmith — whose elder sister Jemima Goldsmith is former wife ofImran Khan — in a tweet expressed sadness over the removal of Khan.
“Imran Khan is a good and decent man, one of the least corruptiblepoliticians on the world stage. I have no doubt he will be returned with abig majority in the upcoming elections,” the UK minister wrote.
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When Johson’s office was asked whether Zac Goldsmith’s statement representsthe views of the government, a spokesperson said: “With regard to Pakistan,we respect Pakistan’s democratic system and we would not get into itsdomestic political affairs. We have longstanding ties with Pakistan and aremonitoring developments,” Geo News reported.
He clarified that the Zac Goldsmith’s remarks did not represent theposition of the UK government, adding that the Britain will not interferein Pakistan’s politics.
