By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Some eight months after Nepal recalled its controversial ambassador to Qatar Maya Kumari Sharma, the country is likely to appoint a new envoy here soon.
According to a Nepalese diplomat here, Katmandu will appoint a new ambassador despite a case filed by Sharma in her country’s highest court against her recall last October.
The Nepalese government has completed formalities to announce a new ambassador and the name will be made public, according to Harihar Kant Poudel, Second Secretary at the Nepalese embassy.
“All preparations are done to appoint a new ambassador to Qatar,” Poudel told this daily yesterday.
Kathmandu had been waiting for the legal process in the case to get over to announce a new ambassador.
However, the decision has been changed and “it (the case) is not so important,” said Poudel.
He said the position of ambassador is vacant at 16 Nepalese diplomatic missions in foreign countries, including Qatar.
“The government is making arrangements to appoint ambassadors to all 16 countries, including Qatar,” said Poudel.
Ganesh Prasad Dhakal is functioning as temporary head of the Nepalese mission in Doha after Sharma was recalled.
Sharma was caught in controversy last September as she was quoted by sections of the Western media criticising Qatar on labour issues. She denied reports and claimed she was misquoted.
Sharma said in her court petition that her government’s decision to dismiss her from Doha as envoy was unlawful as she was appointed by Nepal’s President.
Then she got a stay order from the Nepalese Supreme Court on her recall. The court also directed the government not to appoint a new ambassador until it issued a judgment.
However, Sharma went back to Nepal later in October.
The Peninsula
