New AGP may not plead Justice Isa reference

Law Minister Farogh Naseem may himself take up the case

ISLAMABAD: Newly appointed Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan has said that the rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of the judiciary will be his top priorities.

“The primary objective is supremacy of law and independence of the judiciary. I will firmly submit and present all legitimate interests of the federation before the courts. I will also provide honest and objective advice to the government on all legal matters,” AGP Khan said, while talking to The Express Tribune.

He noted that he would seek support and guidance from bars on all important issues as the bar is an inseparable part of the justice system.

As per the notification issued by the law ministry, Khalid Javed Khan had been appointed by President Dr Arif Alvi as AGP "with the rank and status of a federal minister with immediate effect.”

Khalid Javed Khan replaced Anwar Mansoor Khan who resigned as AGP on Thursday, for levelling allegations against some members of the Supreme Court bench hearing petitions challenging the filing of a presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the apex court.

It is learnt that the law ministry notified Khan’s appointment on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A senior government official, while talking to The Express Tribune, noted that Khan was the “best” choice in the prevailing situation and his appointment would send a positive signal to the superior judiciary, which is already upset over the former AGP’s “uncalled-for comments”.

However, he said that Khan would not plead the presidential reference as he has already expressed his opinion in favour of Justice Isa in the past.

“The purpose of his [Khalid Javed Khan’s] appointment is to maintain a good relationship with the judiciary as well as early disposal of financial matters pending in the superior courts for several years,” he said.

“The government may depute any other senior law officer to argue the [Justice Isa] case,” he added.

It has also been learnt that Law Minister Farogh Naseem will himself argue the case before the apex court.

The official disclosed that a bar which is one of the petitioners in the case has also contacted Khan to plead the presidential reference.

He said that Premier Imran has already held a meeting with Khan and his name has also been proposed by one of the country’s top functionaries.

He maintained that the prime minister is also upset with the former AGP over his failure to pursue the government financial matters.

Khalid Javed Khan had been a vocal critic of the “unconstitutional” steps taken by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf when Farogh Naseem was the Sindh advocate general during his regime. He had openly opposed Musharraf’s Provisional Constitutional Order.

Welcoming the appointment of the new AGP, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said, “Khalid Javed is one of the top lawyers and he deserved the [AGP] post.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Syed Qalb e Hassan said he expected Khan to restore the dignity of the AGP Office and not hold press conferences along with ministers on political issues.

Former AGP Anwar Mansoor Khan faced criticism for holding pressers along with other ministers during his tenure.

Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Abid Saqi hoped the new AGP would not work under the influence of Law Minister Farogh Naseem.

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer suggested making the AGP Office independent from the law ministry for the induction of law officers. Currently, he said, the appointments are being made by the law ministry while it is the exclusive domain of the AGP Office.