The name of Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Maleeha Lodhi is considered to be Islamabad's most likely choice.
ISLAMABAD: Lobbyists hoping to see a Pakistani become the next UN secretary-general are talking up the names of three diplomats, though officials said on Thursday the government is undecided whether it would field a candidate.
The UN Security Council meets in July to begin discussing potential candidates to replace Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who steps down in December, and rival India has already put a name forward for the job.
"Pakistan is mulling over whether or not to name a candidate. No decision yet," a top Pakistani diplomat close to President Pervez Musharraf informed.
If Pakistan joins the race, the name of Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Maleeha Lodhi is considered to be Islamabad's most likely choice.
Other names in the frame include Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, and former executive-director of the UN Population Fund, Dr Nafis Sadik.
India's candidate is Shahshi Tharoor, UN under secretary-general for communications and public information.
"Countries which are interested have started lobbying and Pakistan has not even decided the name," said Senator Enver Baig, a legislator in Pakistan's Upper House of Parliament.
A junior minister caused a mini political storm in Pakistan''s ruling party last week when he suggested that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz should be nominated for the UN job.
President of the ruling party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, swiftly denied the possibility.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam also ruled out Aziz but declined to comment on other potential candidates until a decision is taken.
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