Reinstated prosecutor general Abdel Meguid Mahmoud announced on Friday his intention to submit his resignation to the Supreme Judiciary Council.
Mahmoud returned to his post as prosecutor general through a court order released on Tuesday. He had been removed from his post by former president Mohamed Morsi in a move described as both illegitimate and unconstitutional by most.
Mahmoud released a statement Friday morning detailing the reasons behind his resignation, reported state-run Al-Ahram.
The prosecutor general expressed discomfiture at holding on to his post, given that it’s the prosecutor general’s responsibility to “issue decisions and procedures regarding those who have isolated me from my post”, in reference to Muslim Brotherhood figures.
“I want all of the public prosecution’s decisions to be free of any doubt or suspicion,” the statement read. “I don’t want the decisions to be subject to challenge.”
Mahmoud said he was positive that other judges would be able to grant the prosecutor general’s position independence from any pressures. He added that he only filed a lawsuit to cancel the “void” decision of having him removed from his post to push the judiciary independence forward and reject violation of the laws and constitution.
Upon being officially reinstated on Thursday, Mahmoud went forward with a set of decisions against prominent Brotherhood figures.
Travel bans were issued for Mohamed Morsi and 15 prominent Islamist figures on Thursday. The list of politicians included Saad Al-Katatni, Mohamed Al-Beltagy, Mohamed Akef, Sobhi Saleh, Essam Sultan, Gamal Gibril, Taher Abdul Mohsen and Mohamed Al-Omda, according to Al-Ahram. The 15 were reportedly detained for insulting the judiciary.
Several political movements meanwhile called on Mahmoud to resign from his post, accusing him of belonging to the former regime of Hosni Mubarak.
Mahmoud was removed from his post through a constitutional declaration issued by Morsi in November 2012 which appointed Talaat Abdallah instead. The declaration, which granted Morsi sweeping powers, was severely criticised and led to nationwide protests against him.
