Jhagra takes oath as K-P governor at large, loud ceremony

Over 5,000 people, including diplomats, in attendance

PESHAWAR:

Seasoned politician, Zafar Iqbal Jaghra, took oath as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor in a well-attended, but most disorganised ceremony. The event was held at Governor House in the city on Friday afternoon.

Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel administered the oath to Jhagra, while Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was also present on the occasion.



Jhagra was congratulated by his well-wishers after taking oath and the felicitations continued for an hour.

More than 5,000 guests, including a large number of high-ranking politicians, including parliamentarians, civil and military officers attended the ceremony. Peshawar-based US, Iranian and Afghan diplomats also attended the oath taking ceremony of the new governor. Others in attendance included Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders and members of its affiliated Muslim Students’ Federation.

The guests reached Governor House from far-flung areas throughout K-P and the adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The federal government was represented by Senator Raja Zafarul Haq who is leader of the house, Minister of State for Frontier Regions Lt. General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch and Senator Nihal Hashmi.

A delegation of PML-N, headed by Senator Salim Zia, also made an attempt to reach the ceremony, but arrived at the time proceedings concluded.

Officials at the Governor House said 5,000 guests had been invited to attend the ceremony through invitation cards, but the numbers in attendance were greater.



Throughout the oath taking ceremony, PML-N leaders, especially members of MSF, shouted slogans in favour of party leaders. Before taking oath, Jhagra time and again requested the guests to remain calm.

K-P Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan read the order of the commission issued by President Mamnoon Hussain in favour of appointing Jhagra as the governor. Disorganised and lacking discipline, the oath taking ceremony of the new governor could be gauged from the fact that a former governor left the event before the oath was taken, whereas others were standing on their feet. Several of the guests included former parliamentarians and prominent personalities.

Jhagra was appointed as governor after the resignation of Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan on February 7, 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.