The Attorney General of Pakistan serves as the chief legal advisor for his government and enjoys rights of audience in all courts and parliament without voting privileges; additionally he performs numerous advisory duties.
Ashtar Ausaf, an alumnus of George Washington Law, currently serves as Pakistan’s 32nd Attorney General and issued an advisory opinion regarding States’ obligations with regard to climate change.
The Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General of Pakistan serves as chief legal advisor and performs other legal functions for his or her government, such as right of audience in all courts and participating in Parliament proceedings without voting privileges. Furthermore, their Office advises on legislative projects as well as distributing cases that involve Federal Government assets to other Law Officers.
Ashtar Ausaf Ali is currently serving as 32nd Attorney General for Pakistan and recently returned to GW Law for an interview on his career and how important his role is in shaping Pakistani politics.
Pakistan’s legal system combines Shariah law and common law systems. It predominantly adapts pre-1947 colonial laws for local use, with periodic amendments inspired by Islamic tradition interspersed. Furthermore, Pakistan’s prevailing system retains fundamental common law doctrines and practices such as binding precedent and delegated legislation; one major difference with British legal systems lies in its absence of barristers and solicitors.
The Attorney General for Punjab
The Office of the Attorney General represents and safeguards the interests of the government while providing essential legal guidance in policy formulation and execution. The Attorney General holds audiences in all courts as well as privileges in Parliament without voting rights; additionally he supervises an extensive team of Law Officers including Additional and Deputy Attorneys General in his department.
Asghar Leghari and Usama Ghumman, graduates of LUMS, have made history by becoming the first women ever appointed as Assistant Attorneys General by the Punjab Office of the Attorney General – marking a major achievement and milestone for LUMS and all its students. We take great pride in these accomplishments of both these amazing LUMS graduates.
Gurminder Singh “Gerry” Bedi has been selected to replace Vinod Ghai as Advocate General (AG). Bedi becomes the fifth AG appointed under Bhagwant Mann’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government which took power in March 2022; Ghai had come under scrutiny for opposing AAP policies such as early dissolution of panchayats and home delivery of atta.
The Attorney General for Sindh
The Attorney General of Pakistan serves as its chief legal adviser, enjoying rights of audience before all courts and Parliament as well as performing other legislative and advisory functions. With his team of law officers by his side, he attends litigation brought against the federal government and provides invaluable legal guidance in policy formulation.
Ashtar Ausaf Ali, a graduate of GW Law’s Alumni LL.M. Program in International Humanitarian Law (ICHL), recently made oral submissions on behalf of Pakistan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In his submissions, Mr. Khan stressed the necessity of recognising States’ obligation to prevent significant environmental harm as an obligation that transcends borders and requires stringent care. Furthermore, he advocated for increased international collaboration to combat climate change while supporting adaptation measures; citing as proof of this fact the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Obligations of States In Regard To Climate Change for this assertion of Pakistan’s key positions.
The Attorney General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Government (GPPKP) of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province. Its powers and structure are set out in its Constitution of 1973; these include being headed by an elected cabinet drawn from members of its provincial assembly as well as non-political civil staff working across various departments in its province.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Attorney General acts as chief legal advisor and performs other functions assigned by President. He has rights of audience in Parliament but does not vote, advises on legislative projects, distributes cases involving federal governments to law officers and serves as ex officio Chairman of Punjab Bar Council.
Mansoor Usman Awan is the Attorney General of Pakistan. A member of Pakistan Muslim League, he was appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following 2013 elections as part of a reshuffle after their 2013 elections. Credited with writing the Twenty-Fifth Amendment of Pakistan’s Constitution that combined Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province; furthermore he successfully represented Pakistan before International Court of Justice for two major environmental cases which established that states must work to prevent significant transboundary harm caused by activities within their borders; both projects were awarded under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reshuffle after 2013 elections.