Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday gave his approval for the appointment of Ashtar Ausaf as the new Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP).
The Federal government has appointed Ashtar Ausaf Ali as the new Attorney General for Pakistan. Previous Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan resigned last month following the exit of Imran Khan as prime minister of Pakistan through a no-confidence vote after serving for two years.
The law ministry has reportedly forwarded a summary regarding his appointment. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the media that the decision was taken after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave his approval earlier today.
Read more: Disagreements Emerge Between Law Ministry and Attorney General
Who is Ashtar Ausaf Ali?
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. According to the reports, the representatives of the bar have also recommended Ashtar’s name for the appointment.
He had 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.
Government has decided to appoint Ashtar Ausaf Ali as new Attorney General for Pakistan. Law ministry is forwarding summary regarding his appointment.
— Hasnaat Malik (@HasnaatMalik) May 7, 2022
At the end of his previous tenure, he received praise for persuading the government to split the attorney general’s office from the law ministry and establishing it as an independent institution.
As convener of the Treaty Implementation Cell, he was also able to win the renewal of the GSP Plus economic package offered by the EU in exchange for implementing the core conventions.
Read more: Attorney General Anwar Mansoor resigns from the post
Legal experts have credited Ausaf with salvaging the GSP Plus package that allowed a much-needed boost to Pakistan’s exports.
The Supreme Court also relied on his submissions in a landmark decision, authored by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, which ruled against the registration of multiple FIRs.
The appointment to the AG office is made under Article 100 of the Constitution which allows the AGP to continue to serve in the capacity of the AG till the president decides otherwise.