President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday accepted resignations of Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfikar Ali Magsi.
“Both governors had tendered resignations sometime back which were accepted today,” presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said in a statement on Sunday.
President Zardari took time to accept the resignations of the two governors as they had to administer oath to the newly elected chief ministers in both the provinces.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took oath on June 6, a day after his elder brother and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as Prime Minister. Both were elected for record third time.
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was administered oath of office on Sunday by Governor Magsi.
Magsi has remained governor of Balochistan since 2008. He had announced his resignation following a power-sharing deal between three coalition partners – PML-N, PkMAP and NP – in Balochistan. On June 2, the three parties agreed to nominate Dr Abdul Malik of NP as chief minister and said that the next governor would be from PkMAP. Following the announcement, Magsi announced his resignation.
However, Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood resigned two days after the PPP defeat in the May 11 elections. Mehmood also declared that he would not take part in practical politics.
Mehmood had replaced Latif Khosa as Punjab Governor after joining the PPP and quitting the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).
In addition, his three sons – Syed Mustafa Mehmood, Syed Murtaza Mehmood and Syed Ali Mehmood had also joined PPP. Syed Murtaza was elected to the Punjab Assembly in 2008 on the PML-F ticket.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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It is good that Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and Nawab Zulfikar Ali Magsi have stepped down. Now the new government can appoint governors of their likings. Who will hopefully support governments of Center, Punjab and Balochistan more.
We love Makhdoom Sahab!
Best Governor in the past 15 years!
Should have stayed on!
The politicians particularly PPP leaders have shown lot of grace and maturity in accepting election defeat. It appears Pakistani media is not showing the same grace and professional wisdom in reporting matters relating to PPP. The section of words and their usage is intentional and gives specific meaning of particular mind set.
For example by using the words of * BOW OUT what message is being conveyed here? I read it as the graceful exit of both the governors is being undermined. I hope that the media will also mature with the changing democratic environments like politicians and stop playing with the worlds in disrespecting undermining the respectable and graceful action of the politicians all across the board without exception.*
(I hope my opinion will pass through the moderation policy of ET) A Peshawary
Both of them have got their close family members (brother, sons) win in the recent elections.