ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Newly-appointed Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum on Thursday said that the person held responsible by the Supreme Court in its detailed judgment for filing a reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry should resign.

“Both the president and the prime minister, in my opinion, moved the reference without any ill will, but if any mala fide is established in the detailed judgment then the one proved responsible should quit his office,” Malik Qayyum told reporters soon after assuming the charge of his office. He was appointed AGP by President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday to replace Makdoom Ali Khan.

Malik Qayyum had earlier said at a press conference that the prime minister would have to resign if the apex court annulled the presidential reference.

On Wednesday, Malik Qayyum said he had met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, but the question of taking responsibility for filing the reference was not discussed. He said both the president and the prime minister had respected the SC’s short order of restoring the CJ with open heart.

Mr Qayyum rejected the possibility of filing a new reference against the CJ. “No, this will not happen again. As long as I am here, there will be no new reference. I have friendly relations with the CJP,” he explained.

He said the appointment of new deputy attorney-generals would be made after his meeting with the law secretary.