Qatar authorities press Nepali government to call back its envoy

KATHMANDU: The Qatar government has piled up pressure on the Nepali government to call back its ambassador Maya Kumari Sharma.

Qatar ambassador to Nepal, Ahmed Jasem Al Hamer on Friday formally requested Foreign and Home Minister Madhav Ghimire in writing to call back ambassador Sharma and to avoid affecting diplomatic ties between both nations.

Sharma was picked up for the post on the recommendations of the CPN Maoist, but ever since she assumed her office she has embroiled herself in various controversies.

Prior to this also, envoy Hamer has expressed dissatisfaction of his government but on Thursday he expressed the discontent in writing.

Terms between Sharma and the Qatari authorities soured after the former said that Qatar is an open jail for Nepali labors during an interview for Sajha Sawal, a radio program aired on BBC Nepali Service.

Qatari authorities had summoned Sharma and inquired about her statement and the BBC teams access to her in Qatar.

Authorities at the Foreign Ministry have informed that the dissatisfaction of the Qatar ambassador has piled up pressure on the Nepali government to take the call seriously so as to avert jeopardizing diplomatic ties between both nations, a report published in the Kantipur News Daily on Friday reported.