ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 While the exact reason behind Sardar Latif Khosa's removal from the post of attorney-general is a mystery, seasoned lawyers and political analysts are of the opinion that it might have been the result of his failure to effectively defend the government case during the sugar crisis.

Although his handling of some important cases in the Supreme Court is said to be against government's expectations, it generally is believed that it is the sugar case which caused his sudden departure, since the order for selling the sweetener at Rs40 a kilogramme, initially meant only for Punjab, became binding on the federal government which was directed to implement it across the country.

Mr Khosa, who was appointed attorney-general on Aug 20 last year, could not be reached for comments.

The way the attorney-general was shown the door and made an adviser to the prime minister once again exposed the cold war going on between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over important appointments. The prime minister is learnt to have made the decision last week when he got wind of Mr Khosa's “controversial handling of some of the cases unbecoming of his senior position”, but he kept it to himself.

A legal expert said that under Article 100 of the Constitution, read with Article 48, the president should always act on the advice of the prime minister and Mr Khosa was removed in the same manner.

Rumours abound about who will replace Mr Khosa and names of Malik Qayyum, a former attorney-general, or “someone” from Karachi, are in circulation. However, Mr Qayyum has rejected the speculation about himself.

For the time being, Deputy Attorney-General Shah Khawar is officiating in place of Mr Khosa till the government finds a suitable candidate for the post considered to be a bridge between the government and judiciary.

Several senior federal ministers have expressed surprise over the development and said they were not consulted before the decision was taken by the prime minister.

There are also reports that the president has not yet approved Mr Khosa's removal, or reported resignation.

“There is an opinion in the bar that the incumbent could not come up to expectations, especially on the issue of the sugar and the case relating to prices of petroleum products, which led the government to embarrassment both in the court as well as in political circles,” a source close to Mr Khosa said.

The government appeared to be looking for someone of stature and eminence, he said.

Last year's landslide victory of Ali Ahmed Kurd, known for his aggressive speeches during the lawyer's movement was also considered a blow to the government's perceived plan to divide lawyers' movement and did not cheer up the lawyers' community.

Although Mr Khosa was in the forefront of the lawyers' movement, his role before the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had surprised many a lawyer.