PESHAWAR, March 20: Retired Justice Tariq Pervez Khan was sworn in as the caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday.

Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan administered the oath to the Supreme Court’s former judge who had recently retired as chief justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

PHC Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan, judges, politicians, legislators, former ministers, diplomats, officials and a large number of lawyers attended the ceremony at Governor House. Former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and leader of opposition in the now dissolved Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Akram Khan Durrani did not turn up.

Earlier in the day, the governor had dissolved the assembly after receiving an advice from the chief minister to do so.

Talking to reporters after the ceremony, the caretaker chief minister said he was apolitical person and would remain so. He thanked the former chief minister and political parties for selecting him for the office.

“The responsibility entrusted upon me is very important and I will act as a bridge among all political parties in order to facilitate the democratic process,” he said.

His government, he said, would accord priority to efforts aimed at improving the law and order situation and holding free, peaceful and transparent elections. He said it was the first administrative assignment he had undertaken.

Pointing out that KP was the first province to have appointed a caretaker chief minister, he said it would have a positive impact on the system. He called for tolerance and tranquillity in the province.