ISLAMABAD: Just after seven months in the job, Attorney General (AG) Muneer A. Malik has decided to quit the office, an informed source close to the AG told Dawn on Wednesday.

The AG, who was always regarded as a bridge between the judiciary and the federal government after accepting the constitutional post in June last year, met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday to convey his deepest regard for reposing confidence in him and to inform him about his decision to quit the job from Friday (Jan 10). Mr Malik tendered his resignation to the prime minister during the meeting, the source said.

Mr Malik, who is credited with electrifying the historic struggle by lawyers’ community for restoring Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to his office in 2007, had also been asked by incumbent Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani to continue with the office during his tenure.

A known Supreme Court lawyer and former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Mr Malik spearheaded the lawyers’ movement for the independence of the judiciary when Justice Chaudhry was deposed by former President retired Gen Pervez Musharraf on March 9, 2007.

He was also one of the members of the legal team of the chief justice which fought the legal battle in the Supreme Court for the restoration of the chief justice.

Mr Malik’s resignation has kicked off speculations about his replacement. Some believe that Advocate Ashtar Ausaf, considered to be very close to PML-N circles, may replace Mr Malik but the capital is also rife with rumours that Advocate Akram Sheikh may replace Mr Malik. Advocate Sheikh is leading a prosecution team these days to try Gen Musharraf under treason charges for clamping Nov 3, 2007, emergency. Advocate Khawaja Haris is also among the list of possible contenders for the post.

Legal observers are also of the view that the ongoing trial of Gen Musharraf has also something to do with the AG’s decision of leaving the office since despite earlier expectations that the trial would be quick and swift, the three-judge special court bench still could not indict Gen Musharraf.