Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf Ali has resigned from his post minutes before the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, of which he is a member, was scheduled to meet on the appointment of judges.
The JCP, which is meeting after a gap of five months, is expected to take up the permanent appointment of 13 Lahore High Court judges.
According to the details, Ashtar Ausaf handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, however, he has been asked to continue working till a replacement is appointed.
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While the reason for Ashtar Ausaf’s resignation was not revealed, it is being reported that he resigned citing health issues. Pertinent to mention that Ashtar Ausaf Ali traveled to the US in July for his medical treatment.
AGP Ashtar Ausaf Ali resigned twice time but PM has asked him to continue his work until his replacement is find out. Govt is in search of his replacement for last three months.Its seem Lahore based lawyer is the govt preference for this post.
— Hasnaat Malik (@HasnaatMalik) October 12, 2022
Ashtar Ausaf’s legal career
Ausaf was appointed as the new Attorney General for Pakistan after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s approval on May 7. The post of attorney general fell vacant after Khalid Javed Khan resigned on April 9 following the departure of the PTI government, saying he had tried to serve the country to the best of his ability and conscience.
Advocate Ausaf had served as the 32nd AGP during the previous PML-N regime. He also served as law adviser to ex-premier Nawaz Sharif and is considered very close to the Sharif family.
When he traveled to the US this year, Ashtar Ausaf also stopped over in London. Since Nawaz Sharif is currently residing in London, it was believed that Austar Ausaf was holding a meeting with the PML-N Supremo. However, Ashtar Ausaf rejected the claims and said that he was on a private visit and had to break in London because he cannot undertake a long journey.
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Ashtar Ausaf also served the PML-N government as Advocate General for Punjab twice, from 1998 to 1999 and 2012 to 2013. Ashtar Ausaf served as Prosecutor General of the province from 2011 to 2012.
Advocate Ausaf had also supported the lawyers’ movement to restore the judiciary and remained under detention when Gen Musharraf proclaimed the state of emergency on Nov 3, 2007.