AGP Khalid Jawed recuses himself from Justice Isa case

• The SC has adjourned the proceedings till March 30.

The new Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan refused on Monday from representing the federal government in the presidential reference against Judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Citing a 'conflict of interest', the AGP said he cannot personally represent the government. He asked the Supreme Court (SC) bench  headed by Justice Umer Ata Bandial to accept the government's application for Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman to argue the case.

He informed the bench that Rehman was already prepared to proceed with the case. To this, Rehman said that he has to go abroad till March 20 and requested the bench to set a date after that.

Adjourning the proceedings till March 30, the SC bench has directed the government to bring a new lawyer, local media reported. The bench also warned that the hearing would not be moved forward again.

The bench has been hearing the presidential reference against Justice Isa for not disclosing the foreign assets of his family.