LAHORE: The Punjab government has appointed a senior lawyer Ahmad Awais again as advocate general of Punjab.

Ahmad Awais had resigned after contempt proceedings were initiated against him by a full bench headed by incumbent Chief Justice Lahore High Court Muhammad Qasim Khan.

The other two members of the bench were Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmad Khan and Justice Aalia Neelum.

He was served with a contempt notice for trying to pressurize the bench at the time of announcement of a verdict against the second JIT on Model Town incident.

Ahmad Awais opted to tender resignation instead of an apology and accused the members of the bench of committing misconduct. The bench had discharged the contempt proceedings showing judicial restraint.

Later, Awais had filed a reference before the Supreme Judicial Council against the members of the bench and sought their removal on the charge of 'misconduct'.

A notification issued on Wednesday said, "Governor of Punjab is pleased to appoint Ahmad Awais, advocate, as Advocate General, Punjab with immediate effect."

The office of the principal law officer has been lying vacant since resignation by Ahmad Jamal Sukhera in February this year. Sukhera was appointed on April 16, 2019 following resignation of Ahmad Awais.

The petitions against the Model Town JIT are still pending adjudication before a seven-member larger bench headed by LHC, CJ which is scheduled to resume its hearing on September 09.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020