QUETTA: Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel took oath as Governor of Balochistan on Monday at a ceremony held at the Governor House.

Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar administered the oath to the new governor.

Mr Mandokhel belongs to a political family. His father Sheikh Janan Khan Mandokhel was affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum group).

He obtained his education in Quetta. Under the supervision of his father, Mr Mandokhel started his political career and joined Muslim Student Federa­tion (MSF) in 1974. Later, he was elected President of MSF. He was elected MPA five times from his native constituency of Zhob.

Though he has been in politics since 1974, he was elected an MPA first time from Zhob on the ticket of PML-N and remained provincial minister for education in the Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi and Mir Taj Muhammad Khan Jamali-led coalition governments from 1990 to 1993.

Mr Mandokhel served as finance minister from 1993 to 1996 and also held the portfolio of home minister from 1997 to 1999.

He left the PML-N in 2002 and contested election on a PML-Q ticket and was elected MPA.

Balochistan Chief Mi­­n­ister Sarfraz Bugti, outgoing governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar, provincial ministers, members of the Senate, MNAs, MPAs, tribal elders and leaders of different political parties attended the oath-taking ceremony of the new governor of Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2024