LAHORE, Feb 8: Muhammad Aftab Iqbal Chaudhry, a senior jurist who has expertise in civil matters particularly the constitutional and corporate law affairs, on Tuesday formally took over as the new advocate-general of the Punjab.

Mr Iqbal, who hails from Gujrat, replaces Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Razvi. The office remained vacant for more than two months since the incumbent was elevated to the bench on Dec 1 last year.

He made a courtesy call on Lahore High Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry and also visited his colleagues in the bar after assuming the office for which the Punjab government issued a notification on Monday. He also presided over the maiden meeting of other Punjab law officers.

Being the third generation of a family of lawyers and doctors, the new advocate-general is the nephew of the late justices Karam Elahi Chauhan of the LHC and Kamal Mustafa Bokhari of the Federal Shariat Court. He is also a cousin of Justice Fazle Miran Chauhan of the high court. His father, the late Hakim Muhammad Sardar, was also a leading lawyer of Gujrat.

Mr Chaudhry has been in the legal profession since 1970. He has been a deputy attorney-general between 1990 and 1995.

Talking to reporters, the new principal law officer of the province said maintaining fraternal relations between the bench and the bar would remain his top priority because he belonged to the bar and was a lawyer first and last. "I will try to make the best use of the office for a cordial relation within the fraternity and with the judiciary," he added.

He said he would also strive to assist the judiciary in the dispensation of justice to the poor in particular. Besides, he would also render useful advice to the provincial government in constitutional and legal affairs as part of his duty.