ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday appointed Justice (retd) Malik Mohammad Qayyum as Attorney-General of Pakistan to replace Makhdoom Ali Khan whose resignation was accepted on Tuesday.

“I am coming straight from a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz where my appointment has been finalised,” Malik Qayyum told Dawn.

A notification regarding the appointment will be issued soon.

Under article 100 of the Constitution, the president appoints a person as the AGP who qualifies to become a judge of the Supreme Court and holds office during the pleasure of the president. The AGP enjoys the right of audience in all courts and tribunals of the country and his job is to advise the federal government on all legal matters.

The appointment, however, sparked a stiff reaction from the lawyers’ bodies, with Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Muneer A. Malik resolving to launch a protest campaign against his appointment.

Describing Mr Qayyum’s appointment as disgrace to the highest office, the SCBA chief said what a shame that a person who by virtue of his office also holds the seat of the chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) was facing a disciplinary action under the Legal Practitioners Act before the same body.

He deplored that the government had appointed Mr Qayyum as the AGP who had to resign as the LHC judge when a recorded conversation with the then government of Nawaz Sharif was leaked out.

Qayyum Profile [Click here]