Saudi Arabia has endorsed Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan as a candidate for the post of assistant secretary-general from the Asian region at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Khan is Pakistan’s permanent representative to the OIC in Jeddah.
Speaking to Arab News following his endorsement, Khan said: “I’m honored that the Kingdom and the Pakistani government have selected me as their candidate for such a prestigious position at the OIC.” He said the OIC post would be vacant in July next year and that his term as ambassador would end soon.
He thanked Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal for endorsing a Pakistani candidate. The elections for the post of assistant secretary-general for the period 2014 to 2019 would be held at the 40th session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers in Conakry, Guinea, in the second week of December, he said.
Khan said Saudi Arabia’s endorsement letter was handed to Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Pakistan’s prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer had delivered the letter signed by Prince Saud. Several OIC countries have indicated they would support his bid.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Khan would “work constructively with the incoming secretary-general to advance science and technology objectives.”
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