ISLAMABAD: Lawyer Shehzad Ata Elahi resigned as Pakistan’s Attorney General on Friday, according to persons familiar with the situation. He had been in office for less than two months.
According to sources, Elahi has resigned due to personal reasons.
The Ministry of Law and Justice announced the appointment of Shehzad Ata Elahi as AGP on February 2.
A statement issued by the ministry and signed by Muhammad Umer Aziz, Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan, stated. “In exercise of powers conferred under Article 100(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, 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.”
Article 100(1) stipulates that the president shall appoint as AGP a person who is qualified to serve as a Supreme Court judge.
Elahi assumed the role of AGP after Mansoor Usman Awan recused himself from becoming the government’s top attorney.
President Dr. Arif Alvi authorised the nomination of Awan, a Supreme Court attorney, as the AGP on December 23, after accepting Ashtar Ausaf Ali’s resignation. Ali announced his retirement for health reasons in October of last year.
However, the federal government did not announce the appointment for reasons that were not formally acknowledged.
