On Tuesday Pakistan Punjab province Information and Culture Minster Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan clarified that he has not been asked to resign, but to offer an explanation over his anti-Hindu comments. Hassan has also apologised to the minority Hindu community in Pakistan for his comments. A few days ago, he was severely criticised over "anti-Hindu" remarks by senior party leaders and the minority community in the region, reported news agency PTI quoting local media.
However, some reports even indicated that he was asked to quit. However, the minister has now clarified that he has not been asked to resign by the Pakistan Punjab province Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, adding that an explanation has been sought from his side. The provincial minister told local media outlets that he was summoned by the chief minister and he has clarified his stance.
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Minister apologises to 'country's Hindus' Fayyazul Hassan Chohan also apologised for his comments that had upset senior ministers and the minority Hindu community residing in Pakistan's Punjab province. Clarifying his stand, the minister told Pakistan's GEO TV that he was addressing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Armed Forces and their media, not Hindu community in Pakistan.
"My remarks were in no way directed at Pakistan's Hindu community," he said. #SackFayyazChohan started trending on Twitter since Febriary 24 after a video had gone viral of Chohan making the remarks while responding to Indian commentary on the Pulwama attack. Another local news agency quoted the Chohan during a press conference last month where he referred to the 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, it isn't in your hands," he said.
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"What this flag has to do with anything is beside the point," the minister added. "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. The episode has occurred at a time when several politicians from both India and Pakistan have been commenting on the escalating tensions between the two neighbouring nations.