ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The government reversed on Wednesday its earlier decision about appointment of next foreign secretary and picked Aizaz Chaudhry as successor to outgoing secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, who is moving to Washington as ambassador to the United States.

Ambassador Abdul Basit, currently posted in Germany, had previously been named as the next foreign secretary.

Though the notification about his appointment had not been issued, it was well known that Amb Basit had been chosen for the top Foreign Service appointment.

Mr Basit was readying to return to the country to take up the new assignment and had paid his farewell calls on German leadership.

However, now it is being said that Mr Chaudhry, ambassador-designate for Belgium and the European Union and currently spokesman for the ministry, has been selected as the next secretary.