SC questions govt's 'competency' over delay in AGP's appointment

Expressing displeasure over the delay in the appointment of the attorney-general of Pakistan (AGP), the Supreme Court on Monday told the federal government to fill the constitutional post immediately.

Lack of assistance from the attorney general in the case related to tampered cars irked Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who then lambasted the government for the delay in filling the post since former attorney general Ashtar Ausaf Ali tendered his resignation in October 2022 due to health reasons.

"We are asking you politely to appoint the attorney general," Justice Isa told the government during the hearing when the deputy attorney general failed to give a satisfying answer to the question that "who is the attorney general in the country right now?".

"The government is so incompetent that it cannot even appoint an attorney general," the Supreme Court justice said, questioning whether the government is bargaining with someone over the AGP's appointment.

"The Supreme Court has 5,500 lawyers but the government cannot find a single one," he added.

Justice Isa further added that the government is violating the Constitution by not appointing the AGP, reiterating that the orders given by the apex court were not followed either.

The court said that the additional attorney general and the deputy attorney general are bound to take instructions from the AGP only.

"It is against the law for the deputy and additional attorney general to appear without instructions of the AGP," the court added.

'AGP to be finalised in 2-3 days'

Last week, Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the new attorney general will be finalised within two or three days.

The judiciary had expressed displeasure with the government for not appointing the AGP after Ashtar Ausaf Ali tendered his resignation in October last year due to health reasons.

President Dr Arif Alvi approved the appointment of Mansoor Usman Awan, who is a Supreme Court lawyer, as the AGP on December 23 after accepting Ausaf's resignation. However, he refused from taking charge.

“I am going to meet PM Shehbaz today (Saturday) and possibly the issue of appointing the new attorney general will be finalised within two or three days,” Tarar said.

He revealed that first Awan consented to be the attorney general but later he verbally and in writing refused to accept the office, citing his professional engagements.

“I can’t disclose the names of the new potential candidates, being nominated for the slot of attorney general but hopefully the prime minister will finalise the name within two to three days,” he told The News.