News Desk |
Foreign Office spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal on Tuesday said Pakistan values its minorities and the contributions of the Hindu community.
Taking to 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.”
#Pakistan proudly owns the white in the flag as much as the green, values contributions of the Hindu community & honours them as our own.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) March 5, 2019
Dr. Faisal’s tweet comes after a video went viral of Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan making derogatory remarks against the Hindu community.
“I was addressing the Indian army and Indian media,” Chohan said. He added, “I am sorry if my statement has hurt the sentiments of Hindus residing in Pakistan.”
Chohan was severely criticized by senior members of his party’s government and social media users with #SackFayazChohan trending on Twitter for his anti-Hindu remarks while addressing a gathering on February 24.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government “will not tolerate this nonsense”, party leader Naeemul Haque said Monday night. “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,” Haque, who is special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, tweeted.
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.
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) March 4, 2019
Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar, the federal ministers of human rights and finance, also condemned Chohan’s remarks.
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“Absolutely condemn this. No one has the right to attack anyone else’s religion. Our Hindu citizens have given sacrifices for their country,” Mazari tweeted. “Our PM’s msg is always of tolerance & respect & we cannot condone any form of bigotry or spread of religious hatred,” she added.
Absolutely condemn this. No one has the right to attack anyone else's religion. Our Hindu citizens have given sacrifices for their country. Our PM's msg is always of tolerance & respect & we cannot condone any form of bigotry or spread of religious hatred. https://t.co/uOTeyEg4Pb
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 4, 2019
“Hindus of Pakistan are as much a part of the fabric of the nation as I am. Remember the flag of Pakistan is not just green….its not complete without the white which represents the minorities,” Umar wrote on Twitter.
Hindus of Pakistan are as much a part of the fabric of the nation as I am. Remember the flag of Pakistan is not just green….its not complete without the white which represents the minorities. Quaide Azam's whole struggle was for a country free of discrimination
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 4, 2019
Pakistani human rights activist Kapil Dev also reminded Chohan that are four million Hindus living in Pakistan and even his own party had Hindu lawmakers.
We are 4 million #Hindus in Pakistan.
I repeat.
We are 4 million Hindus in #Pakistan.
— Kapil Dev کپل دیو (@KDSindhi) March 4, 2019
Mahira Khan also joined the chorus of voices calling for action against the Punjab information minister. “Action not just condemnation. Always a good time to set an example, but now may be the best time!” she tweeted.
Action not just condemnation. Always a good time to set an example, but now may be the best time! @ImranKhanPTI @ShireenMazari1 @PTIofficial https://t.co/MkxFKAnKo0
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) March 4, 2019
Chohan received severe criticism not only from senior PTI leaders who condemned his derogatory words, but people from all walks of life demanded sacking Chohan for his scornful remarks against the religious minority group.
#SackFayazChohan I endorse this demand. Enough of this, he brings shame to the whole government, Pakistan and PTI.
Not at all acceptable in #NayaPakistan
The Pakistani Hindus, Christians and people from other religions have as much right to Pakistan as Muslims do!
— Imran Ghazali | #DigitalStrategy (@ImranGhazaliPK) March 5, 2019
No to racism, No to Discrimination No to stereotyping, No to labelling and No to generalisation. #SackFayazChohan
— Anjum Kiani 🇵🇰 (@AnjumKiani) March 4, 2019
This man from hindu family sacrificed his life for Pakistan.Minorities in Pakistan enjoy all kind of freedom regarding their religion, political activities n economic struggles. Minorities hv equal rights as majority in Pak. So plz #SackFayazChohan. @ShireenMazari1 take action. pic.twitter.com/UIBfPyVcL5
— Saleem Wazir (@Saleem_wazir7) March 5, 2019
Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan has come forth tendering an apology for his derogatory statement against Hindus. Clarifying his stance Chohan has said that his comments were not targeted towards the Hindu community in Pakistan, but directed towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that he is apologetic if his remarks have caused offense to the Hindu community. “I was addressing the Indian army and Indian media,” Chohan said. He added, “I am sorry if my statement has hurt the sentiments of Hindus residing in Pakistan.”Chohan also said that he will ‘give a befitting response to anyone who casts an evil eye on my country.’However, I was not referring to the Hindu community of the country, he stressed.