After mounting pressure from the UCPN (Maoist), Qatari government and Nepali workers based in Doha, the government on Thursday relieved controversial Ambassador Maya Kumari Sharma of her responsibilities.  

She has not been given a time frame to return from Qatar, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is likely to give her four weeks to come back. A letter to recall Sharma was signed by Acting Foreign Secretary Ambika Devi Luitel. Sharma was appointed as envoy to Qatar on a Maoist quota in February 2012.

After she ignored a call from the UCPN (Maoist) to give up the post, the government decided to relieve Sharma of her duties effective from Thursday, Minister for Information and Communication Madhav Ghimire told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Following her several controversial statements, Qatari Envoy to Nepal Ahmed Jasem Al Hamar had written a letter to Foreign Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire, urging him to take steps to prevent possible deterioration in bilateral relations between the two countries. Ever since her appointment, Sharma was being criticised for not being friendly to Nepali workers in Qatar. Her decision to close a residential building meant for Nepalis in Doha spelt trouble. A section officer at Agricultural Development Bank of Chitwan before assuming the ambassadorial post, she had strain relations with Nepali workers in Qatar.

Sharma’s diplomatic eligibility came under scrutiny after she told a BBC Sajha Sawal TV programme that Qatar was an ‘open prison’. Right after this statement, she urged the Qatari government to deport a journalist who wrote a letter against her. Later on, she corrected her remarks and apologised. On June 24, the Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry sought a clarification from her over her remarks that ‘Qatar is an open jail’.

Thapa next Saarc chief The Cabinet meeting also recommended Foreign Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa for appointment as next Saarc Secretary-General.

According to the English alphabetic order, it is Nepal’s turn to recommend the new Saarc chief. Ahmed Saleem, who is Maldivian career diplomat, is going to complete his tenure as Saarc chief in November.

During a meeting of Saarc Council of Ministers to be held on the sidelines of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Nepal will propose Thapa’s nomination for a nod of approval. Thapa himself is representing the Saarc meeting after Foreign Minister Madhav Ghimire cancelled his visit.

Published on: 27 September 2013 | The Kathmandu Post