The premier while addressing the multi-party conference in Islamabad on Monday said that he decided to avoid eye contact with the Israeli PM when he came to know that the latter would address the session after him.

PM Shehbaz also came to know that Netanyahu would be sitting in the same room where leaders wait for their turn to deliver their speeches.

The Pakistani premier went on to add that he sat in a way to have any contact with the Israeli PM.

“When Netanyahu was about to come to address the UN session, I was told that Israeli PM may also come in the same room where you will sit as he was about to speak after me. Then, I think that I should face myself opposite from the door where the entrance was so that he [Netanyahu] comes from the back side and does not see me. Even if he sees me, then he will go and then I will come out so that I don’t even have the moment to shake hands with him,” PM Shehbaz.

He thanked God that such a moment did not occur and reiterated that the Pakistani delegation walked out of the session when the Israeli PM came to deliver his speech.

When Netanyahu stood at a lectern, the Pakistan delegation at the United Nations General Assembly led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif walked out.

The delegation also comprised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Science and Technology Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram.