Islamabad: 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, signalling that the much-awaited appointment could be delayed further.

Amid speculation that the Jamali government has shortlisted ex journalist-turned-diplomat Maleeha Lodhi and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq for the post to steer the fledgling normalisation process with India, Foreign Secretary Riaz Kokhar has forwarded the names of three senior officials for the post of High Commissioner, local daily 'Dawn' said on May 14.

Kokhar has named Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan and senior officials Tariq Osman Haider and Javed Hassan for the post.

While Khan has the rank of Additional Foreign Secretary, Haider is currently serving as Additional Secretary (United Nations) and Hassan is posted as Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran. Khan also served as Minister and deputy head of the mission in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi from 1985- 87.

Kokhar forwarded the names of the three serving officials to President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister's Secretariat on May 13, the paper quoted officials as saying.

The final decision on the key appointment will be taken by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali with the approval of Musharraf, it said.

In view of new developments, the appointment of Pakistan's High Commissioner to India could be delayed by a few days, the newspaper said.

PTI