Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to appoint Tehmina Janjua as the new foreign secretary in February.

On seniority basis, Masroor A Junejo should replace Aizaz Chaudhry as the foreign secretary, but Junejo’s chances are bleak.

The post will fall vacant after Chaudhry will move to the US to grab the ambassador’s slot next month. Envoy to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani’s term will complete in February.

Daily Times contacted the PM’s spokesman Musadiq Malik, but he did not comment.

In the seniority list of Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP) Masroor Junejo is the senior-most. He is followed by High Commissioner (HC) to India Abdul Basit, HC to the UK Syed Ibn-e-Abbas and former envoy to France Ghalib Iqbal.

Sources said that until now Permanent Representative to the UN Tehmina Janjua has been tipped and considered hot favourite for the foreign secretary’s slot. The government is not considering Basit’s name as he is more close to the military establishment.

The government is facing criticism from the opposition and retired diplomats for not appointing a full-time foreign minister. Currently, the Foreign Office is being run by Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi. Both, however, want the person of their choice to be inducted to the top slot.