Sources privy to the development said that the Prime Minister while reversing its earlier decision to appoint Dr Yousaf Junaid, an officer from the Commerce and Trade group, has nominated Tariq Azeem Khan to be appointed as Pakistan's new High Commissioner to Canada.
The sources said that the appointment of Tariq Azeem Khan is still awaiting approval of the host government. The government has earlier named Dr Yousaf Junaid for the major diplomatic assignment in Ottawa who is currently working as Pakistan's Consul General in Istanbul, Turkey.
The nomination of Dr Junaid as Pakistan High Commissioner to Canada had earlier drawn a strong reaction from the career diplomats who are waiting for their turn to serve in the important world capitals. The sources said that non-career diplomats have a 20 percent quota in diplomatic assignments where the sitting government can appoint retired government officials, diplomats, journalists, politicians and military officials. Tariq Azeem Khan, a former Senator on Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) ticket from 2006 to 2012, served as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting during Pervez Musharraf's government. However, he joined PML-N in April 2012.