QUETTA, Aug 11: Former federal minister Owais Ahmed Ghani took oath as the Governor of Balochistan at a ceremony held at the Governor’s House here on Monday.

The Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Mr Justice Fayyaz Ahmed, administered the oath to the new governor who replaced Gen Abdul Quadir who had resigned from his office on Aug 5.

Talking to newsmen later, the governor dispelled an impression that he had been made the Balochistan governor with an agenda to launch a military operation in Dera Bugti or other areas of the province against different tribes.

“No, I have not been given any task of launching any operation in Balochistan,” the governor declared.

“There is no truth in such rumours,” he said, adding he would play his constitutional role for a close coordination between the province and the Federation.

“As the governor I am the representative of the Federation and I will play my role as a bridge between the province and Center,” he said.

Replying to a question about Dera Bugti, the governor said he was new in the province and was not aware of the Dera Bugti situation. He said he would first take a briefing about problems of the province and then give his opinion on the matter.

He said he would join hands with the elected provincial government for strengthening the political process started by President Gen Pervez Musharraf. He said it was the desire of the president to continue the political process started after the election and establishment of elected governments at Centre and provinces.

“We all have to honour the verdict of the people they gave in the last election and work for strengthening the political and democratic system in the country,” Mr Owais told a questioner.

The governor said that he would extend his full support to elected representatives.

“When the elected government is stable and strong then problems would be resolved easily,” he said, adding that all issues would be resolved through negotiations. “I am a person who believes in dialogue,” Mr Owais said.

He said the governor was a representative of the Federation and any one could be appointed on this post. He said in the NWFP many governors were appointed from other areas of the province.

He hoped that those who were opposing his appointment as the governor of Balochistan would be his strong supporters in future. He said he had great love for the people of Balochistan as they were his own people.

“I will work for the mineral development of Balochistan,” he said.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, provincial ministers senators, MNAs, Judges of the Balochistan High Court, Quetta Corps Commander Lt-Gen Shahid Hamid, Commandant of Quetta Command and Staff College Major-Gen Mohsin Kamal, former Governors Justice (retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal, Abdul Rahim Durrani and senior civil and military officers and political leaders attended the ceremony.