Baqaul Mohsin
BAHAWALPUR – Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood has said that he was not nominated as new governor to advance any political agenda but he would continue to make efforts for restoration of Bahawalpur province.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday he said after taking oath on December 25 (tomorrow), he would own a constitutional post and would be governor of the whole province, so he will act as a political neutral and won’t serve sectional interests. But at the same time, thanking President Asif Ali Zardari for reposing trust in him and giving him opportunity to serve the people, Makhdoom Ahmed said he would perform his responsibility in a way that “President Zardari would not be disappointed”.
However, he declared that he would not join the PPP, saying, “I belong to Muslim League by birth and my forefathers always remained with the League.” Moreover, he said that being governor he cannot join any political party, and that was why he resigned from PML-Functional.
The selection of Makhdoom as governor by PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari surprised all – including several PPP leaders who regard him as a stranger. However, the development has been billed by many as a trump card of the president in the run up to the general elections.
The governor-designate asserted that he did not have any differences with Pir Pagara, adding that PML-F did not oust him rather he resigned from the party himself. He said he enjoys personal relations with the leaders of all the parties and he would try his best to meet the expectations of all political quarters.
Makhdoom Ahmed also had excellent relations with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif but reportedly induction of two “electables” from Rahimyar Khan in the PML-N marred their relation. After being distraught with his old friend, Makhdoom quickly accepted President Zardari’s offer to be governor of Punjab.
About the restoration of Bahawalpur province, Makhdoom Ahmed said that the movement will become more powerful during the period of his governorship and that he would continue working as the head of the core committee of ‘Restoration of Bahawalpur Movement’. “It’s a totally wrong perception that I will leave my target of restoration of Bahawalpur after my becoming governor. How is it possible to leave a cause for which I held public gathering in every part of Bahawalpur division – form Rahim Yar Khan to Bahawalnagar.”
He said those who opposed restoration of Bahawalpur province, passed the resolution presented by them in the provincial assembly. “I will play my role for the implementation of resolutions passed by the Punjab Assembly and the National Assembly about the Restoration of Bahawalpur Province... Gates of Governor House will remain always open for the people of Bahawalpur, any Bahawalpuri can enter the Governor House by just showing his or her ID card and special instructions will be passed to the staff in this regard.”