Anwar Mansoor Khan resigns as attorney general of Pakistan

• He submitted his resignation letter to President Arif Alvi.
• Pakistan Bar Council had demanded his resignation following his controversial statement regarding a full-court bench hearing Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s case.

Anwar Mansoor Khan resigned on Thursday as the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP).

In his resignation letter submitted to President Arif Alvi, Khan said, "I note with profound regret that the Pakistan Bar Council, of which I am the Chairman, has demanded through its press release dated 19th of February 2020 that I resign forthwith from the Office of the Attorney General of Pakistan."

He further said that he stands with his brothers and colleagues at the Bar and wish to reaffirm 'my faith in the highest principles of integrity and professional excellence that the Pakistan Bar Council has always stood for'.

Both the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) had demanded the resignation of the top officer following his controversial statement regarding a full-court bench hearing Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s case. The bench has been hearing the presidential reference against Justice Isa for not disclosing the foreign assets of his family.

The Supreme Court had then sought an apology from Khan. Justice Umar Ata Bandial had asked Khan to either produce evidence supporting his statement or submit a written apology. "

“Certain statement was made by the attorney general about the bench and it would be appreciative that the material on the basis that he has made statement be placed before the bench. In case, no material was placed before this bench, we expect a written apology from the attorney general for having to touch the matter, "Justice Umar Ata Bandial said in his order.