Mansoor Usman Awan was appointed as Pakistan’s new Attorney General following Barrister Shehzad Ata Elahi’s resignation. President Arif Alvi approved Awan’s appointment summary on Monday.
A Power of Attorney grants another individual legal permission to act on your behalf. It is an increasingly common document used in many countries around the world.
The Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General serves as chief legal advisor to Pakistan’s government, providing advice and counsel on legal matters as referred or assigned by President. He has the right of audience in all courts in Pakistan and may participate in Parliament proceedings (without voting rights) without voting rights. To assist him are Additional Attorneys General, Deputy Attorneys General and Standing Counsels.
As well as offering legal guidance, the Attorney General handles litigation and provides legal opinions for various government departments. He reviews draft legislation as well as treaties or agreements to ensure they are legally sound. Furthermore, he can intervene in cases that are of public interest as well as coordinate with prosecution services to ensure appropriate charges are brought in criminal cases.
President Arif Alvi has accepted Shehzad Ata Elahi’s resignation as attorney general and appointed Mansoor Usman Awan as his replacement – an accomplished Supreme Court lawyer, Awan is expected to assume office shortly.
As Attorney General, Awan will serve as the highest-ranking law officer in the nation. His appointment comes following a period of uncertainty following Shehzad Ata elAlahi’s sudden departure on Friday reportedly because of disagreements between judiciary and government authorities.
Awan earned both his Master of Laws from Harvard and Bachelor of Laws from University of Punjab. Prior to working with UN, Awan was also a member of American Bar Association as well as fellow of Commonwealth Law Reform Institute of Pakistan.
Awan has held various roles within Pakistani government, from being advocate general of Punjab to serving as special assistant to the prime minister and being appointed federal minister. Recently he visited GW Law so he could share his insights about its intricate political and legal systems with students and faculty alike.
The Office of the Advocate General
The Office of the Attorney General was created under Article 100 of Pakistan’s Constitution and appointed by the President on advice from Prime Minister. This constitutional office serves as legal advisor and right of audience in all courts and tribunals across Pakistan.
Outside providing legal advice to the government, the attorney general also serves some statutory roles. For instance, they can direct coroners to conduct inquests when it serves the public interest.
The Attorney General position is widely seen as being of great eminence. As the intermediary between executive, legislature and judiciary bodies – they represent government in hearings in parliament or courts directly related to government matters.
Attorney Generals have the right to attend sessions of parliament without voting rights, and can join cabinet meetings as an observer. Their role is also crucial when it comes to law enforcement; their impartiality should ensure justice is upheld when carrying out legislation.
In cases of disputes or conflicts, the attorney general must resolve them according to principles of law and fairness. He or she cannot interfere with politics or election issues and should never bring suits against the government in private practice.
Mansoor Usman Awan was nominated to serve as attorney general of Pakistan last December but recused himself due to “unavoidable professional commitments.” Awan earned both his Master of Laws (LLM) from Harvard Law School USA and Bachelor of Laws degree from University of Punjab; furthermore, he enjoyed an outstanding reputation in legal circles when he worked alongside Justice Babar Sattar as partner in their law firm; additionally he has also served on Law Reform Commissions and chairperson of Supreme Court Bar Associations respectively.
The Chief Legal Advisor to the Government
The Attorney General office in Pakistan is one of the cornerstones of legal system. It serves as the government’s legal advisor and representative in matters pertaining to law, statute or otherwise, as well as providing advice to President, head of departments and any others on such legal matters. Administratively it falls under control of Ministry of Law.
Pakistan’s Attorney General serves as Chief Law Officer of the Federation and is charged with providing legal advice to and representing the government in all legal proceedings before courts. He enjoys audience rights in all courts as well as attending parliament proceedings without being entitled to vote; additionally he acts as chief public prosecutor in prosecuting criminal offences under both federal and provincial legislation.
Attorney Generals also serve to advise the government on legislative matters, draft proposals for laws to be enacted, and fulfill any other duties of legal significance referred or assigned by President. Furthermore, under the Coroners Act 1962 they can direct coroners to hold an inquest into any death.
Barrister Shehzad Elahi recently assumed the Attorney General role for Pakistan. As his grandson former President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry’s grandson, he enjoys an excellent reputation for hard work and integrity. A young corporate lawyer with experience in tax and banking law as well as civil, commercial and constitutional litigation matters; Cornelius Lane Mufti Law Firm.
Ashtar Ausaf Ali was appointed after Ashtar Ausaf Ali was charged with contempt of court for failing to file a written reply to an order from the Supreme Court asking it to form a full bench in Dost Mazari’s removal, contrary to Constitution. Engaging in private practice before either retiring from office or being reappointment was in violation of his duty as AGP.
The Right to Private Practice
Pakistan’s Attorney General acts as chief legal advisor to the government, providing advice and performing duties assigned by President. Additionally, they have access to all courts throughout Pakistan for audience purposes during their term in office and cannot engage in private practice during that period.
Barrister Mansoor Usman Awan currently serves as Attorney General. He was appointed after Shehzad Ata Elahi submitted his resignation, graduating with honors from Punjab University Law College and winning both Justice M Jan Memorial gold medal and Charles Earl Bevan Petman law prize. Awan also has provided counsel on several significant matters before the Supreme Court Bar Association including implementation of Article 95 and interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution.
He holds an outstanding legal reputation, having been Justice Babar Sattar’s law firm partner before being appointed to the Islamabad High Court. Highly competent and having developed strong working relations with government entities. Unfortunately he recused himself from becoming AGP due to “unavoidable professional commitments”.
President of Pakistan recently applauded Mansoor’s work and expressed confidence that his tenure as AGP would be fruitful, encouraging him to focus on corruption issues plaguing Pakistan. Additionally, they made attempts to limit private practice of doctors during day shifts while permitting specialists the option of conducting private practice at nighttime.
This measure has met some resistance from within the medical community. Some doctors are worried they will become overwhelmed with an additional workload, while others maintain they should have control over how to spend their free time. Overall though, most physicians support the idea.
Pakistan’s healthcare delivery system is complex. It combines health subsystems created by both federal and provincial governments alongside formal and informal private sector systems competing with formal/informal. Urban-rural disparities exist within this system as do chronic shortages of health professionals; furthermore, an important percentage of its population lives below poverty threshold levels with consequent food insecurity leading to suboptimal health outcomes.
