Khayyam Akbar, deputy chief of mission at the Pakistani Embassy, revealed that some candidates contesting for the position of assistant secretary general at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have demanded the postponement of elections at the ministerial meeting of OIC held in Konakry recently.

Akbar said, “OIC members agreed to postpone the elections for the new secretary general of the organization, which were earlier scheduled for Dec. 11.”

Speaking to Arab News, Akbar refused to disclose the names of the candidates but indicated that the polls would be held before March 11 with the cooperation of OIC Secretariat in Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia endorsed the candidature of Pakistan’s Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan for the post of assistant secretary general from the Asian region at the OIC.

Akbar thanked the Kingdom for extending its support for the Pakistani candidate. “We always pray for the success of Pakistan and the excellent relationship between the two countries,” he said.

“We believe that Khan will bring his experience, dedication, and loyalty to the OIC,” he said.

Pakistan has approved the candidature of Khan, while Afghanistan has fielded Nangyalai Tarzi, the country’s ambassador to Geneva.

Earlier, Akbar said that it remains unclear whether the three other candidates from Malaysia, Indonesia and Afghanistan were still in the race for the OIC position.

Recently, a Saudi delegation participated in a high-profile ministerial meeting organized by the OIC, to discuss a range of issues confronting the Muslim world and the election of the new OIC assistant secretary general in Guinea.

The 40th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministries (CFM) adopted a number of resolutions addressing the situation in Palestine, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Mali, and Afghanistan. It also focused on the latest developments in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Azerbaijan, Turkish Cypriot State, Kashmir, Niger, Comoros, Djibouti, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Muslim community in Myanmar.

During the session, the CFM also adopted resolutions on economic and cultural affairs including Islamophobia, science and technology.