Overview

The Attorney-General for Pakistan is the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government of Pakistan, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Attorney-General for Pakistan is appointed by the President of Pakistan in terms of Article 100 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and holds office during the pleasure of the President. He must be a person qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court. The Attorney-General is responsible for giving advice to the Government of Pakistan on such legal matters, and for performing such other duties of a legal character as may be referred or assigned to him by the President. The Attorney-General has the right of audience in all Courts in Pakistan as well as the right to participate in the proceedings of the Parliament, albeit not the right to vote. He appears on behalf of the Government of Pakistan in all its cases (including suits, appeals and other proceedings) in the Supreme Court. He also represents the Government of Pakistan in any reference made by the President to the Supreme Court. The Attorney-General is assisted by Additional Attorneys-General and Deputy Attorneys-General. All references to the Attorney-General are made by the Ministry of Law. Unlike the Attorney-General of the United States, the Attorney-General for Pakistan does not have any executive authority, and is not a political appointee; those functions are performed by the Law Minister of Pakistan.