ISLAMABAD: The federal government has started the search for a new Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) after Mansoor Usman Awan stepped down from the charge.
After former AGP Ishtar Osaf Ali resigned due to health reasons in October last year, the judiciary expressed displeasure with the government for not filling this important constitutional post.
President Dr. Arif Alvi approved the appointment of Awan, a Supreme Court lawyer, as AGP on December 23 after accepting Ousaf’s resignation. However, the federal government did not notify the appointment.
Ausaf requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to release him citing health reasons. However, the Prime Minister asked him to continue till the appointment of his predecessor. However, he did not appear in court to represent the federal government.
Federal Minister of Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazir Tarar said that I am going to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today (Saturday) and possibly the matter of appointing a new Attorney General will be decided in two or three days.
He revealed that Awan initially agreed to become the Attorney General but later refused to accept the post verbally and in writing citing his professional commitments.
“I cannot reveal the names of the new potential candidates who are being nominated for the post of Attorney General but hopefully the Prime Minister will finalize the names in two to three days,” he told JEE News.
Tarar said that he would meet the Prime Minister today specifically and discuss the matter with him. He further said that the government is very cautious about the concerns being expressed by the judiciary over the delay in filling the post of AGP.
Supreme Court sought details of new AGP.
On January 11, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) also questioned the official status of the new AGP after the AGP’s office failed to assist the Supreme Court in a property case.
Taking notice of the appointment of a new one and the resignation of the last AGP, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case.
The court summoned the law secretary for the next hearing and ordered to bring all the documents related to the appointment of the new attorney general and the resignation of the previous one.
During the hearing, the judge observed that “the office of Awan, the new AGP, is not properly assisting the court in matters for which he seeks clarification”.
“Who is the Attorney General?” During the hearing, Justice Isa questioned Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Shafqat Abbasi to which he replied: “Ashtar Ausaf”.
Justice Isa said that Ousaf has resigned and his resignation has been accepted.
“Who is the new Attorney General?” he questioned. The Deputy Attorney General said that he was not aware of it.
Justice Isa then questioned Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman about the new AGP, who failed to respond.
