After facing flak for his "anti-Hindu" comments, a minister from Pakistan Punjab has apologised but clarified that his remarks were targetted at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of the cross-LoC airstrikes by India.
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, who was severely criticised by senior members of his party's government and social media users, said: "I was addressing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian armed forces and their media, not the Hindu community in Pakistan", Geo reported.
"I apologise if my remarks hurt the Hindu community in Pakistan," Chohan continued. "My remarks were in no way directed at Pakistan's Hindu community."
Chohan added: "I will respond befittingly to whoever looks at my nation with a dirty eye. Every last drop of my blood is for my nation."
#SackFayazChohan began trending on Twitter after his anti-Hindu remarks while addressing a gathering on February 24. A video had gone viral of Chohan making the remarks while responding to Indian rhetoric in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan Naeemul Haque, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and several others had slammed Chohan for his remarks.
"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.... it's not complete without the white which represents the minorities," Minister 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
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan Naeemul Haque tweeted that the PTI government "will not tolerate this nonsense".
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
Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal also took to Twitter.
#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