Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, a Member of National Assembly belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is set to take oath as Federal Minister for Law and Justice on Tuesday. A close-aid of Chaudhry confirmed to Business Recorder that Virk from Gujranwala is going to take oath as federal law minister on Tuesday. A lawyer by profession, the MNA is currently the chairman of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Law and Justice.

Virk had run for the seat of National Assembly on a ticket of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) from NA-97 (Gujranwala) in 2002 general elections but remained unsuccessful but he was elected as MNA on a ticket of PPML-N from same constituency in 2008 general elections. He was re-elected as MNA in 2013 elections.

The portfolio of law and justice ministry was lying vacant after the minister Zahid Hamid had to resign under an agreement between the PML-N government and the protesting leaders after the deadly clashes between police and protesters belonging to religious groups in November, 2017. The protesters had demanded his removal for changes in a law related to the Khatam-e-Nabuwat (finality of prophethood) oath in the Elections Act 2017.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018