Pakistan foreign office has reportedly nominated three of its senior officials for the post of high commissioner to India.

Pakistani daily Dawn said seasoned observers consider it a move to scuttle the government's plan to name a high-profile non-diplomat as the high commissioner to India.

The reported move took place amid speculation that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had floated the names of ex journalist-turned-diplomat Maleeha Lodhi and former minister of state for foreign affairs Inamul Haq for the post.

Foreign Secretary Riaz Kokhar, according to the newspaper, has forwarded the names of foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan and senior officials Tariq Osman Haider and Javed Hassan for the post to President Pervez Musharraf and the prime minister's secretariat on Tuesday.

While Khan has the rank of additional foreign secretary, Haider is currently serving as additional secretary (United Nations) and Hassan is posted as Pakistan's ambassador to Iran.

Khan also served as minister and deputy head of the mission in Pakistan high commission in New Delhi from 1985-87.

Jamali will take the final decision on the key appointment with the approval of Musharraf, the paper said.

In view of the new developments, the appointment of Pakistan's high commissioner to India could be delayed by a few days, the newspaper said.