ISLAMABAD: Former Atto­rney General for Pakistan (AGP) Shehzad Ata Elahi on Saturday denied that he had been asked to resign and cited personal reasons for quitting the prestigious office.

It was ‘absolutely incorrect’ that he had been asked to resign, he said in a clarification.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah earlier told a private news channel that Mr Elahi had been asked to resign since he could not present the federal government’s stance in a strong manner before courts in some cases.

“In fact when I communicated my intention to resign to senior members of the government I was requested to defer sending the resignation to the president and at their request I handed the original resignation over to a senior minister,” so that the government send it to the president at its convenience, Mr Elahi said in the clarification.

“Unfortunately, some facts were selectively leaked to media yesterday (Friday) and while I avoided engaging with the numerous reporters and media channels who contacted me repeatedly a distorted narrative is being created which is why I am now constrained to send this clarification,” he added.

In his resignation letter that he addressed to President Dr Arif Alvi on March 24, Mr Elahi cited personal reasons for tendering his resignation for which he was unable to continue in this prestigious position.

“It has been my privilege and honour to serve as the 37th Attorney General for Pakistan,” the resignation letter said, adding: “Accordingly, I hereby resign from the position of AGP and request you (president) to accept it with immediate effect. I wish all the best to my successor as well as my colleagues and the Government of Pakistan,” the letter concluded.

Mr Elahi was appointed AGP on Feb 2, following the resignation of then AGP Ashtar Ausaf Ali in October 2022.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2023