President Alvi approves Ashtar Ausaf's appointment as attorney general

Published May 9, 2022
This photo shows newly appointed  Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf. — Photo courtesy: Ashtar Ali LLP
This photo shows newly appointed Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf. — Photo courtesy: Ashtar Ali LLP

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday approved the appointment of senior Supreme Court advocate, Ashtar Ausaf, as the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP), almost a month after Khalid Jawed Khan resigned from the post.

The attorney general is the government’s primary lawyer in the apex court and is responsible for advising it on legal matters.

According to a statement issued by the President's Office, Dr Alvi appointed Ausaf on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Article 100(1) of the Constitution which states: “The president shall appoint a person, being a person qualified to be a judge of the Supreme Court, to be the AGP.”

On Saturday, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar had confirmed that a summary for Ausaf's appointment had been forwarded to the president after approval from the premier.

Ausaf's predecessor had resigned following the ouster of the Imran Khan-led government. The former AGP had told a group of reporters earlier this year that he had decided to resign soon after the retirement of Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed in February.

After the change of government last month, the new government led by coalition parties, mainly the PML-N, had started headhunting for a new AGP. Those considered for the top post included Ausaf, former law minister Zahid Hamid and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja.

Ausaf, who earlier served as AGP from 2016 to 2018 and also served as law adviser to former premier Nawaz Sharif, is considered very close to the Sharif family.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.