ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: President Asif Ali Zardari accepted on Sunday the resignation of the governors of Punjab and Balochistan submitted after the victory of the PML-N in the general elections.

Presidency’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirmed to Dawn that the president had accepted the resignation of Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood and Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Ali Magsi on Sunday night, paving the way for the appointment of their replacements by the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Setting an example, the Punjab governor held a news conference on May 13 and announced that he had sent his resignation to President Zardari. Mr Mahmood said the public had chosen the PML-N and that the mandate should be accepted. He also announced that he would no longer participate in parliamentary politics, but would continue to serve Pakistan in his own capacity.

Mr Mahmood, a PML-F leader from south Punjab, had taken oath as Punjab governor on Dec 25 last year, following the resignation of Latif Khosa of the PPP.

Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Ali Magsi had tendered his resignation on June 2 soon after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had nominated Dr Abdul Malik as chief minister of the province and announced that the new governor would be from the Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party.

Mr Magsi sent his resignation to President Zardari and said it was the right of PML-N government to nominate his successor.

In his resignation letter, he said: “It is my considered opinion that upon change in the federal government it is the right of the newly-elected prime minister to recommend his own nominee for appointment to the position of the governor of the province.

“Accordingly, in the spirit of discernment, I have decided to resign as the Governor of Balochistan province effective upon the swearing in of new Prime Minister.”

On a personal note, Mr Magsi wrote to President Zardari: “It has been a pleasure to work with you and your government, thank you Mr President for your friendship and cooperation which was always forthcoming.”

The Balochistan governor remained in office for about five years and three months.