Dawn, quoting its sources, says Khan is likely to issue the notification before his departure to Saudi Arabia on a three-day official visit.

This follows reports in the media saying Khan met with the aspirant Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, currently the corps commander for Karachi, on Wednesday.

Although there was no official comment on the meeting between Khan and Anjum, there was also no denial of such a meeting.

Ansar Abbasi of the News on Thursday quoted "an informed source" as saying the meeting took place and the notification of his appointment should be issued in a few days.

“Most probably the notification will be issued on Friday,” a senior cabinet member told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

This issue has gripped the country since the ISPR issued a release on Oct 6 announcing transfers in the military and announcing Lt Gen Anjum as the next ISI chief, replacing Lt Gen Faiz Hameed who was named as the corps commander for Peshawar.

However, Khan wanted the army to send a summary to him carrying three names of the candidates for the office of spymaster so he could meet with them before making a decision, in accordance to rights accorded to the prime minister.

After a meeting between the prime minister and chief of army staff Gen Qamar Bajwa, Khan told a cabinet meeting the issue was resolved.

Social media was rife with rumors claiming the notification was sent on October 18 and awaits Khan's signature.

Lt Gen Hameed was seen on Thursday accompanying Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on his trip to Afghanistan to meet the interim government.

If he is notified as the new DG ISI, Lt Anjum is expected to take charge by month's end.

Watch the video below to learn about him: