Jaffar Mandokhail takes oath as 24th Balochistan governor

PML-N leader Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail took oath as 24th Governor of Balochistan at an impressive ceremony in Quetta on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Hashim Kakar administered the oath to Jaffar Mandokhail at the ceremony held at Governor’s House in Quetta. 

Ougoing Balochistan governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, his cabinet members, and members of the provincial assembly also attended the event.

Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail held various key positions in the provincial governments, including finance minister, minister for planning and development, minister for education, and minister for revenue.

After his appointment to the coveted office, the governor resolved to play the role of a bridge between the Federation and the province. “The problems and difficulties of the province will be discussed with the federal government. There is room for improvement in terms of governance in the province,” he said, speaking to journalists following the oath-taking ceremony.

Governor Mandokhail, while commenting on the possible fencing of Gwadar, said he was unaware of any such development. “No knowledge about fencing in Gwadar. If it is being installed for security purposes, then it is a good thing,” he added.

New governor’s profile

Mandokhail was born on December 26, 1956, in Quetta. He did his matriculation from St Francis Grammar School and masters from Balochistan University. He entered into politics in 1974 through student politics and was also the president of MSF.

The politician first contested the election from Zhob on a provincial seat on the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) ticket in 1988.

He also served as the education minister from 1990 to 1993, finance minister from 1993 to 1996 and home minister from 1997 to 1999.

In 2002, Mandokhail contested the polls on PML-Q's ticket and won. Moreover, after his win in the 2013 elections, he was assigned the portfolio of three departments — Board of Revenue, Excise and Transport.

He contested the 2018 elections on PML-N's ticket but was defeated by Balochistan Awami Party's (BAP) candidate Mitha Khan.

In the 2024 elections, he contested on PML-N's ticket from his Zhob constituency but was defeated by a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidate. 

Reporter Essa Tarin