LAHORE: Barrister Ahmad Jamal Sukhera on Wednesday formally took charge as the new advocate general of Punjab following a notification issued by the governor the other day.

The office of the principal law officer fell vacant after Ahmad Awais tendered his resignation following contempt proceedings initiated against him by a full bench of the Lahore High Court. He was served with a contempt notice for creating a scene in the courtroom and trying to pressurise the bench at the time of announcement of a verdict against a joint investigation team on the Model Town incident.

Mr Awais did not tender an apology and preferred to resign from the post accusing the bench of committing misconduct. The bench, however, discharged the contempt proceedings showing judicial restraint.

Mr Sukhera is a brother of federal Commerce and Industries Secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and his name had been finalised after a nod given by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2019