PTI wants first woman AG for Punjab removed

In a letter to incoming caretaker Punjab CM, party terms appointment a move to manipulate upcoming polls

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has bitterly criticised the appointment of Asma Hamid as the new Advocate General of Punjab, terming it a move to manipulate the upcoming elections.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, PTI’s spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said the step was taken in haste and the Punjab chief minister appointed the new AG just a few hours before the end of his tenure. He said the appointment was made just to serve the interests of the Sharif brothers.

In the letter written to incoming caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, the Imran Khan-led party said the appointment was made to reward allegiance and personal ties with Sharif family and to shield future action of Punjab CM.

“To provide covert and announced aid to PML-N’s candidates and pave way for pre-poll rigging,” the letter added.



In a surprise move, the Punjab government appointed Asma Hamid as the new advocate general of the province, making her the first woman to hold this constitutional post ever in the history of this office.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved on Monday a summary regarding her appointment as advocate general replacing Shakilur Rehman.

Hamid holds a post-graduate degree in constitutional law from the United States’ prestigious Harvard University. She was appointed as an Assistant Advocate General in January, 2014 and as Additional Advocate General in March, 2015.

She has also assumed responsibilities as acting advocate general in charge of the office on two previous occasions.