Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit has expressed ‘shock’ over the additional charge given to renowned scholar Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Middle East affairs.

In a tweet on Friday, the former Pakistan ambassador to Germany, questioned “what experience does he have in diplomacy to be advising the government on Middle East?”

He wrote: “Surprised nay shocked at this appointment. What experience does he have in diplomacy to be advising the government on Middle East? Maybe some hidden talent people of Pakistan are not aware of.”

Meanwhile, defence analyst Zaid Hamid criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over the appointment asked Prime Minister Imran Khan “What he has done?”

It is worth to mention here that, on Wednesday, in a notification, the Prime Minister Office said in partial modification of its earlier order Maulana Tahir’s designation has been changed to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony/Middle East.

The scholar is a current member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League in Makkah and also a president of Wafaqul Masajid Pakistan.