By 
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Law and Justice announced the long-awaited appointment of the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) on Thursday, naming Barrister Shehzad Ata Elahi as the country’s AGP.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 100(1) of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Barrister Shehzad Ata Elahi as Attorney General for Pakistan with the rank and status of Federal Minister with immediate effect,” said a statement issued by the ministry and signed by Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan, Muhammad Umer Aziz.
According to Article 100(1), the president would designate someone qualified to be nominated as a Supreme Court judge to be the AGP.
It should be recalled that the federal government began seeking a new AGP just days after Mansoor Usman Awan stepped down.
On December 23, President Dr. Arif Alvi authorized the nomination of Awan, a Supreme Court lawyer, as the AGP after accepting the retirement of Ashtar Ausaf Ali, who resigned in October due to health reasons. However, the federal government did not inform the appointment, for reasons that were not formally acknowledged.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court called the new AGP’s official standing into question after his office failed to assist the apex court in a property-related issue.
