Pak may field Maleeha

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may field its high commissioner to Britain Maleeha Lodhi as its candidate for UN secretary general, essentially to counter Indian nominee Shashi Tharoor, reports agencies.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s name also did the rounds, a newspaper said. “After hectic consultations among the ruling circles, a decision has been taken about Dr Lodhi’s candidature for the post of the UN secretary general,” the newspaper said, quoting a senior official.

“As for the names of Prime Minister Aziz and ambassador Munir Akram (permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN), it was all rumours but the candidature of Nafis Sadik was considered,” the official said.

Announcement regarding this vital decision was likely after the envoys conference being held here this week from Monday to Thursday.

A well-known journalist, academician and diplomat, Lodhi had earlier served as ambassador to the US. Before becoming a diplomat, she was editor of an English daily.

Some media reports earlier suggested that Pakistan was unlikely to go in for a tit-for-tat nomination on India’s bid for the post of UN secretary-general after it came up with the candidature of Shashi Tharoor as candidate for the secretary-general’s job.

However, the official said Pakistan would counter the Indian move and all possible efforts would be made for the success of Lodhi.