Abdul Basit, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, retires early; Sohail Mahmood to take charge

Islamabad: Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has sought an early retirement and his request has been formally accepted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a leading media house claimed on Tuesday.

Basit, who was  due to retire from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April 2018, had "submitted an application to Prime Minister Sharif for his early retirement which was accepted," Pakistan's leading Geo News reported, citing sources.

Abdul Basit to take early retirement https://t.co/jQ6nEuXdpe — Geo English (@geonews_english) July 25, 2017

The channel, however, did not specify any reason for Basit's premature retirement.

The Foreign Office sources had earlier confirmed to PTI that he was unhappy over the appointment of current Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, who is junior to him.

Basit joined the Foreign Service in 1982 and held several diplomatic assignments at Pakistani missions abroad.

Prior to his appointment as the High Commissioner to India in 2014, Basit had served as Pakistan's Ambassador to Germany from May 2012 till March 2014.

Basit has already completed his three-year tenure in New Delhi.

Sohail Mahmood, the new designated High Commissioner to India, is expected to take up his responsibilities next month, the channel reported.

Mahmood, 55, currently Pakistan's envoy in Turkey, is a career diplomat who joined the Foreign Service in 1985. 

With PTI inputs