Pakistani Minister makes derogatory remarks against Hindu community; gets sacked
The Information and Culture Minister of Pakistan's Punjab, Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, has reportedly been sacked from the post after making derogatory remarks against the Hindu community. While Pakistan Punjab's Chief Minister Usman Buzdar accepted Chohan's resignation, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party tweeted that the minister had been "removed" as "bashing someone's faith should not be a part of any narrative." Here's more.
The ruling PTI party tweeted, "PTI Punjab government has removed Fayyaz Chohan from the post of Punjab Information Minister following derogatory remarks about the Hindu community." "Bashing someone's faith should not b a part of any narrative. Tolerance is the first & foremost pillar on which #Pakistan was built (sic)," the party wrote on Twitter.
PTI Punjab government has removed Fayyaz Chohan from the post of Punjab Information Minister following derogatory remarks about the Hindu community. Bashing someone’s faith should not b a part of any narrative.Tolerance is the first foremost pillar on which #Pakistan was built. pic.twitter.com/uKJiReWc26
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 5, 2019
Chohan reportedly made remarks against the Hindu community in Lahore on 24 February while responding to India's statements against the deadly Pulwama attack on 14 February that was carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit. As many as 40 CRPF personnel were martyred in the attack.
A video in which Chohan was seen making derisive comments against the Hindus had gone viral on social media while #SackFayyazChohan started trending on Twitter. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who took note of Chohan's remarks, also reportedly questioned the derogatory comments. Before Chohan's removal, the PM's Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Naeemul Haque, tweeted that PTI wouldn't "tolerate this nonsense".
"The derogatory and insulting remarks against the Hindu community by Fayyaz Chohan...demand strict action. PTI govt will not tolerate this nonsense from a senior member of the govt or from anyone. Action will be taken after consulting the Chief Minister," Haque had tweeted.
On 24 February, Chohan had reportedly referred to Hindus as "cow urine-drinking people". "We are Muslims and we have a flag, the flag of Maula Ali's (AS) bravery, the flag of Hazrat Umar's valor (AS). You don't have that flag...," he said. "Don't operate under the delusion that you're seven times better than us. What we have, you can't have, you idol-worshippers," he said.
After being slammed by many for his anti-Hindu remarks, Chohan had earlier also apologized for the derogatory comments. He also told Pakistan's Geo TV that his comments were directed at the Indian Prime Minister, Armed Forces, and the country's media but not the Hindu minority community in Pakistan. "My remarks were in no way directed at Pakistan's Hindu community," he said.
