*LAHORE: Asma Hamid, who was appointed as Advocate General of Punjab byformer Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in closing days of his government’sfive-year term, was removed from the post on Wednesday.*

Additional advocate general Shan Gul has been given charge of the office ofAG as a stop-gap arrangement.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had taken notice of theappointment of Ms Hamid and sought an explanation from the provincialgovernment in this regard.

It summoned the Punjab chief secretary to explain as to why the appointmentwas made despite its ban on recruitment ahead of general elections.

The commission directed the provincial government to ensure implementationof its ban in letter and spirit.

The former CM reportedly approved a summary with regard to the appointmentof Ms Hamid as first-ever woman AGP.

The appointment came just days before the PML-N government completed itsfive-year tenure on May 31.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also written a letter to the ChiefElection Commissioner and the caretaker chief minister, pointing out thatHamid’s appointment was made in a helter-skelter manner without followingthe required procedure laid down for such an appointment.

Expressing concern over the appointment, the party termed it pre-pollrigging and requested the CEC and Punjab caretaker chief minister todeclare it illegal and void.

PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said Ms Hamid’s father Shahid Hamid and uncleZahid Hamid are the Sharif family’s loyalists, suggesting that herappointment was made on political basis rather than merit.