Businessman accused of impersonating Pakistani diplomat in Malawi
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The Maravi Post
In Blantyre, businessman Mahmood Azhar Chaudhry is accused of impersonating a Pakistani diplomat, including by presenting himself as Pakistan’s representative and displaying official symbols outside his home. The Pakistan High Commission in Dar es Salaam did not respond to a questionnaire, The Maravi Post reports, while the fraud allegations remain unproven.
Pakistani journalist Shafqat accuses the Pakistani government of protecting Mahmood Azhar Chaudhry, a businessman based in Blantyre who is said to have presented himself as Pakistan’s diplomatic representative in Malawi. The Pakistan High Commission in Dar es Salaam did not respond to a questionnaire about the measures it is considering, The Maravi Post reports.
According to the outlet, Chaudhry allegedly claimed for nearly three years to be Pakistan’s deputy consul and deputy ambassador in Malawi. He is said to have had a plaque bearing Pakistan’s emblem installed outside his private residence in Blantyre, flown the country’s flag and used diplomatic number plates on private vehicles. He also allegedly claimed duty-free import privileges from Malawi’s tax authority.
The Maravi Post says Chaudhry holds a Malawian passport. The outlet reports that legal and diplomatic experts believe installing an official plaque at a private residence requires authorisation from both the sending state and the host country, as well as the latter’s approval.
The outlet presents the case as a continuation of its previous allegations against the businessman, whom it accused on 8 October of evading prosecution in an article about Mahmood Azhar Chaudhry.
