Sources told Arab News in Islamabad Thursday that Andrabi, a career foreign service officer, had been designated Pakistan’s envoy to the Kingdom by former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi.

Upon his departure from the Foreign Office, Andrabi, whose appointment was approved by Riyadh, was politely asked not to go, the sources added.

Naeem Khan, additional secretary at the Foreign Office, is now said to be in contention.

A spokeswoman at the Foreign Office promised Arab News a statement on Saturday. However, there has been no contact since.

Sources told Arab News that the nomination of the next ambassador will be put forward after discussions between the president, prime minister, chief of army staff and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.