Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood on Tuesday took oath as Punjab Governor in a ceremony held at the Governor’s House.
Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Umar Atta Bandiyal administered the oath to Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood in a simple but dignified ceremony.
Makhdoom Ahmad resigned as the PML-Functional Punjab president after he was offered the coveted post by President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday.
He is from the southern Punjab district of Rahimyar Khan and was elected to the Punjab Assembly in previous general elections.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, PPP Punjab leader Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmed, federal and provincial ministers, Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, Abdul Qadir Gilani, JI’s Dr Waseem Akhtar, PML-Likeminded leader Humayun Akhtar, parliamentarians and a large number lawyers.
Ahmad Mahmood replaced Sardar Latif Khosa who had been appointed Punjab governor on Jan 13, 2011.
After his swearing in as the provincial governor, Ahmad Mahmood said his appointment would lead to improvement in the Punjab’s situation. He added that his first priority would be to work for the betterment and welfare of the people. He said in view of the economic situation in Punjab, he would not draw salary from the exchequer.
Ahmad Mahmood said his appointment as governor was “not the result of backdoor diplomacy” and any understanding. He praised the political acumen of late PPP leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
The governor said he would try his best to meet great expectations of the president, adding that he would stand by the Punjab government for good governance.
He also said that Dr Tahirul Qadri should not put his followers on trial with tough agenda. The newly elected governor warmly welcomed Shahbaz Sharif and discussed current national and regional issues.