By Muhammad Luqman
Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal has said Pakistan values the contributions of the Hindu community and pays respect to them as its own.
In a statement on Twitter, the FO spokesperson said, “Pakistan proudly owns the white in the flag as much as the green, values contributions of the Hindu community and honours them as our own.”
The Foreign Office’s tweet came on the heels of derogatory remarks of Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan, against the Hindu community.
Chohan , known for his tub-thumping style of speeches, had made these remarks while addressing a gathering of film and TV artists at Lahore Press Club on February 24. These remarks later became viral on social media, inviting condemnation from almost from every segment of Pakistan’s multi-cultural and multi-religious society.
However according to media reports, Chohan in a statement tendered an apology to the minority community, explaining that he had made such remarks while addressing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I was addressing the Indian prime minister, military and media,” the Punjab Minister said.
“I apologise if [my remarks] hurt the Hindu community residing in Pakistan,” he said.
Taking a strong exception to Chohan’s ‘insulting’ remarks, Special Assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Political Affairs Naeemul Haq said action will be taken against him after consulting Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
In a tweet, Naeemul Haq, “ The derogatory and insulting remarks against the Hindu community by Fayyaz Chohan the Punjab Info Minister 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,” Naeemul Haq said.
