LAHORE, Oct 29: Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) who took over as the Punjab governor on Monday, said for the time being he would retain the ministers chosen by his predecessor.

“For the time being, I’ll try to work with the same team”, he said in a brief informal talk with reporters at the Governor’s House. He implied, however, that some changes might be made at a later stage.

Earlier, Gen Maqbool was administered the oath of office by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Falak Sher. Ministers, judges and civil and military officials were also present at the ceremony.

Gen Maqbool was chairman of the National Accountability Bureau before taking over as chief executive of the province. Before that, he was the Lahore corps commander.

About the Bahawalpur incident of Sunday in which over a dozen people were killed, the governor said he believed that some foreign elements were behind it. “Our people cannot commit such a heinous crime”. He, however, added that investigations were going on and it was premature to say something definite.

The governor said Islam was a religion of peace and affection and taught tolerance and sympathy for others. He said it was for Muslims to establish this.

Gen Maqbool thanked President Gen Pervez Musharraf for reposing confidence in him. He assured the president that he would do his best to come up to his expectations.

The governor said he would like to see the Punjab progress in all fields: economic, social and cultural. He said he would seek the cooperation of the government functionaries, the elected representatives and the people at large.

He said Pakistan was at present playing an important role at the world level. He said he would like it to maintain its status.

At the provincial level, he said, he would try to ensure that people’s problems were solved, state functionaries discharged their obligations and traders did their business without any fear.

Replying to a question, the governor said the Punjab was getting 51 per cent of its share of water. While there had been a shortage of water last year, a good harvest was possible through good water management both by the government and the farmers.

This year, too, he said, the government would try to have a good crop.