AGP appointment challenged in LHC

LAHORE - Appointment of Advocate General of Punjab Khawaja Muhammad Haris has been challenged in the Lahore High Court in a constitutional petition on a ground he was the personal attorney of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

Shahid Orakzai, a freelance journalist, in his petition has said the appointments of AGP had negated the oath of the CM that his personal interest would not influence his official decisions.

He said Khawaja Haris appeared before a full bench of LHC in which the CM was included as respondent. Likewise, he represented Shahbaz Sharif before Returning Officer PP-141 to answer objections on his candidacy.

He pointes out the AGP’s appointment breaches Article 140 and negates the basic purpose of appointing the AGP. His appointment is visibly motivated the by political interest of the CM than the functions laid down in Article 140.

He said the LHC would have to determine that whether the appointment was made by governor on the advice of cabinet or exclusively on the verbal instructions of the chief minister.