Appointment of two ‘junior’ lawyers as Sindh AAG challenged

KARACHI: A constitutional petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court, challenging the appointment of two “junior” lawyers as assistant advocate general (AAG).

The petitioner, Advocate Syed Muhammad Ali Jafri, alleges the appointments were made against merit and purely on a political basis. The respondents, including AAGs Dawood Jan Mazari and Asad Jamali, Sindh chief secretary, law secretary and advocate general, failed to submit their comments despite repeated notices from the Sindh High Court. According to the petitioner, a lawyer with five years of experience in the high court is eligible for the position. The AAG receives a monthly salary of Rs400,000, along with perks such as Rs60,000 as house rent, 180 liters of fuel, a police guard, and a driver, all funded by the government. He alleged the newly-appointed AAGs did not have the required experience. “AAG Dawood Jan Mazari is the nephew of former PPP MNA Saleem Jan Mazari and AAG Asad Jamali has the same relation with former PPP MNA Rafiq Jamali. They were appointed assistant advocate general on August 11, 2023, with the approval of the Sindh chief minister. Both enrolled as Sindh High Court lawyers in August 2021. Hence, they have only two years of experience as high court lawyers, contrary to the required five years as per the Rule 3-D of the Sindh Law Officers (Condition of Service) Rules, 1940,” he contended.

When contacted, Assistant Advocate General Dawood Mazari said his appointment was according to merit and the rules. He argued that there was a rule of five years as a high court lawyer for the post but it was not a law just a rule which could be relaxed.

To a question, he confirmed he belonged to the PPP and was a nephew of former MNA Saleem Jan Mazari. AAG Jamali also took the same stance.