LAHORE: Advocate General of Punjab Shan Gul resigned on Saturday, saying that he would be unable to continue working from June 27 because of domestic commitments that he couldn’t postpone any longer.

In his resignation, sent to Governor Balighur Reh­man and caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Mr Gul recalled that after having not been confirmed as a permanent judge of the Lahore High Court, he was approached by the caretaker chief minister and other authorities to know his availability to serve as the advocate general.

“I had been specifically infor­med that the appointment was only for a short duration, which prompted me to accept it,” he said.

He highlighted that when he assumed office, the office of the advocate general had been faced with several matters pending for over a year, including opinions sought by various departments and the courts.

However, the office currently had no outstanding matters pending, he said.

Mr Gul expres­sed his inability to perform the functions from June 27 on account of prior domestic commitments, which he was no longer able to postpone. He requested the authorities to accept his resignation with effect from June 27.

Sharing the news of Mr Gul’s resignation on Twit­ter, PTI leader Hammad Azhar commented: “To­d­ay, Advocate General Pun­jab, tasked with ‘prosecutions / witch-hunt’ of 9th May accused has resigned.”

Mr Azhar said former attorney general of Pakis­tan Shahzad Elahi had also resigned from his post a couple of months ago when the government allegedly wanted to subvert the Constitution and not hold elections within 90 days.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2023