The Minister of State, Hina Rabbani Khar to represent Pakistan in the FIFA World Cup in the first week of December.
The Foreign Office had received invitations; the ceremony was attended by leaders worldwide, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, whose team defeated defending champions Argentina in an incredible and unforgettable victory.
Earlier the Ambassador of Qatar in Islamabad, Saoud Abdulrahman Al-Thani, met with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday to offer an invitation to watch the World Cup from his Qatari counterpart.
According to sources, it was crucial for Pakistan to demonstrate solidarity with a fellow Muslim state that was the first to host the world cup and was being attacked by some world capitals, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and even the media for alleged violations of human rights.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the first to defend Qatar in a tweet. “It’s unfortunate that Qatar is bombarded with propaganda as a FIFA World Cup host. It should be recognized for its excellent preparations for the mega event and for promoting global peace and development. He remarked that Pakistan stands in solidarity with HH Emir and the people of Qatar.
In Islamabad, the German ambassador, Alfred Grannas, tweeted a picture of a football created in Sialkot and exported to the World Cup for hundreds of thousands of dollars. He tweeted, “Every goal is a Pakistani goal.”
