Appointment of non-career diplomats as envoys: 'Memogate' episode raises some serious questions

The controversy of 'memogatge' has entered a critical stage, bringing civilian and military leadership to a visible standoff. However, former ambassadors argue that whatsoever may be the outcome of the current crisis, there should be an end to appointment of non-career diplomats, particularly in key countries like the US and UK.
Additionally, the 10 percent quota for retired military generals in appointments in missions abroad, introduced by General Zia-ul-Haq has continued with poor results, causing embarrassment to the country, excepting one or two cases.
Due to handsome perks and privileges, appointing diplomats in missions abroad on political grounds is now accompanied by hectic lobbying and, given the coalition government today, different coalition partners are routinely lobbying for their own favourites who have neither the qualifications nor the experience to undertake diplomatic duties. "This must end," said former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand while talking to Business Recorder, adding that it was unfortunate that merit was not given priority in Pakistan.
He said that the 10 percent reserved quota for retired military generals in foreign missions exceeded 14 percent in reality, even when 'democratic' governments were in power.
Another former diplomat, Ayaz Wazir, said that had Pakistan appointed a career diplomat in Washington DC, the episode of 'memogate', allegedly sent to former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen by Husain Haqqani would not have occurred. Non-career diplomats often embarrass the country, he said, adding that if there had been an Islamabad's career diplomat in Washington he would have provided better guidance to the government premised on decades of training.
He cited the example of Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, who opted to resign, instead of requesting the United Nations to investigate Benazir Bhutto's death case--a flawed decision that the government insisted on making and which later embarrassed the country. "He (Riaz) adopted a principled stance and advised the government not to refer the case to the UN", Wazir said. Instead, the former foreign secretary advised President Zardari to probe the matter in the country, he added.
When asked about appointment of non-career diplomats, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit declined to comment, but in a text message informed this scribe that the ratio of appointment of career to non-career diplomats was usually 80 and 20 percent respectively.
The spokesperson declined to comment when asked during the weekly press briefing on Thursday to comment on the controversy of 'memogate' and alleged role of Husain Haqqani, saying the matter was sub judice. However, when asked whether Pakistan's former envoy to Washington Husain Haqqani used to send regular reports to Foreign Office about his activities, as required and as undertaken by all career diplomats, he said: "What I can tell you is that the rules of business are the same for all ambassadors or High Commissioners, whether they are career diplomats or political appointees".
The Mansoor Ijaz affair is the most disgraceful diplomatic episode in Pakistan's history, which demonstrates the extent to which the foreign policy establishment has deteriorated because of appointment of persons of questionable probity as envoys to key capitals, said an official of the Foreign Office.
The appointment of Pakistan High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Wajid Shams-ul-Hassan and Husain Haqqani-both non-career diplomats, is increasingly being questioned in the country. Haqqani lost his post in the aftermath of the 'memogate' controversy while the absence of Wajid in the recently held Pakistani envoys' conference, despite directive by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend, has given birth to several disquieting question:
Does Wajid consider himself accountable to only the President? Is he liable for some disciplinary action for not conforming to the FO summons? And, does he even bother to submit detailed reports on his activities as the Ambassador? Wajid was represented by Deputy Head of Commission Nafees Zakria in the significant conference to review the country's foreign policy in the aftermath of Nato's last month's attack.