‘Afghan diplomat remains seated due to music in Pak national anthem’

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghan Consulate in Peshawar has defended the actions of its Acting Consul General, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, who remained seated during Pakistan's national anthem at the Rehmat-ul-Alameen Conference in Peshawar on Tuesday.

Shahidullah, the spokesperson for the consulate, clarified that the decision was due to the presence of music in the anthem.

In an official statement, the spokesperson said, “There was no intention to disrespect or demean Pakistan’s national anthem. The Consul General did not stand because of the music in the anthem.”

The consulate also noted that Afghan authorities have imposed a ban on the use of music in their own national anthem. "Had the anthem been presented without music or by children, the Consul General would have stood and placed his hand on his chest," the spokesperson added.

Islamabad has complained to Kabul after an Afghan diplomat failed to stand up when the Pakistani national anthem was played during an event in the country's northwest, officials said Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry also summoned Ahmad Shakib, Afghanistan's chargé d'affaires and its most senior diplomat in Islamabad, in protest over the incident on Tuesday evening.

Political Affairs Expert Mufti Mohammad Ajmal Salaar said: “In Islam, all respect and reverence is due to Allah (swt). Standing for the national anthem is considered illegal according to Sharia, because it shows reverence and respect to other than Allah, the act of IEA diplomat was in line with the Sharia law and we should respect only what Allah has commanded us to respect.”

Gen. Mobin on his social media account wrote Pakistani media outlets have criticized the IEA diplomat’s denial to stand in the respect of Pakistani national anthem.

He said: “It's not that we don't understand diplomacy, the denial to stand in the respect of Pakistani national anthem has several important messages, one is the religious aspect, according to which remaining seated when a national anthem is played not considered a sin, going back to history, the story of Koh Noor Almas began with Peshawar and Ranjit Sing, and a neighbor that has not accepted a principle of neighborhood, if we look at the economy, its policy is not based on mutual benefits.”

Shahab Liwal, a social media user, said: “The representatives of a free and independent Islamic government should be so arrogant! Arrogant against the world's arrogant imposed systems, arrogant! Against non-Islamic blasphemous laws and practices, Hafiz Muhibullah did not insult Pakistan's dangadong or national anthem, but he fulfilled his shari'a duty and responsibility.”