In an apparent move to scuttle the government’s plans to name a high-profile non-diplomat as High Commissioner to India, Pakistan Foreign Office has reportedly nominated three of its senior officials for the top post, signaling that the much-awaited appointment could be delayed further.Amid speculation the Jamali government has shortlisted journalist-turned-diplomat Maleeha Lodhi and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq for the post, Foreign Secretary Riaz Kokhar has forwarded the names of three senior officials for high commissioner, daily Dawn said today. Kokhar has named Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan and senior officials Tariq Osman Haider and Javed Hassan for the post.Kokhar forwarded the three names to President Pervez Musharraf and PM’s Secretariat yesterday, the paper quoted officials. The list was out, even as India named its Ambassador to China Shivshankar Menon as new High Commissioner to Islamabad. Menon’s credentials have already been approved by Pakistan.The Foreign Office naming its choice specially when Musharraf himself toyed with the idea to appoint Lodhi or Haq was seen as an extraordinary development, which indicated the Foreign Office’s resolve to assert itself.
