PESHAWAR: Prominent Fata politician Shaukatullah Khan took oath of office as the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa here on Sunday.

Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court Dost Mohammad Khan administered the oath to Mr Khan, who has replaced Barrister Masood Kausar.

Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, politicians, diplomats and senior officials attended the ceremony held at the Governor’s House.

Over 1,000 guests mostly from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies were invited.

Mr Khan was offered a couple of traditional turbans on the occasion.

After the brief ceremony, Mr Khan told journalists that there were many issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Fata that needed to be looked into but his priority was to create a peaceful environment for free and fair elections in the province and tribal regions.

When asked about steps he would take for restoration of peace in Fata, the new governor said: “Lawlessness is a global phenomenon and tribal area is not an exceptional case.”

He, however, said the situation had been improving and more steps needed to be taken for security and stability.

Answering a question about the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s offer for talks with the government, Mr Khan said: “According to tribal traditions an offer of negotiations can never be rejected.”

He said he was in favour of talks, but a proper mechanism would have to be developed for starting the process at federal and provincial levels.

He said the Awami National Party had convened an all-party conference to discuss steps for tackling the problem of terrorism and initiating negotiations with the Taliban. A tribal jirga was also a proper forum to resolve conflicts and the government would use this platform, he added.

The governor said he was ready to accept any task which would help the cause of peace in Fata and the province.

Replying to another question, he said he had no political affiliation and being a governor he would remain neutral.

Before leaving the Governor’s House, Barrister Masood Kausar told a gathering at the residence of the Kohat commissioner on Saturday that he was proceeding on a foreign visit and would not be available for some time.

But sources said a group of PPP leaders and workers was not happy with Barrister Kausar because of what they termed his tilt towards the ANP. They had complained to President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed their reservations and said that Mr Kausar’s presence in the Governor’s House was of no help to the party.