Islamabad:
Legal expert Munir A Malik, who played a key role in the lawyers' movement against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, was today named Pakistan's new Attorney General.
"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been pleased to advise the President of Pakistan to appoint Mr Munir A Malik as Attorney General of Pakistan," said a statement issued by the premier's office.
Mr Malik is "held in high esteem in the country's legal fraternity," the statement said.
He served as president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and played a "leading role during the judges' restoration movement".
The Karachi-based lawyer was at the forefront of the lawyers' movement for restoring Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry after he was deposed by Musharraf in March 2007.
He was targeted by the previous military regime and even briefly jailed.
Mr Malik will replace Irfan Qadir, who was appointed Attorney General by President Asif Ali Zardari in April last year.