LAHORE: Local journalists on Tuesday recorded strong protest and demanded an apology from Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan’s over his crass remarks issued in a memorial reference for late Qazi Hussain Ahmed.
A journalist requested the minister to respond on the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief’s statement alleging that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) promise of turning the country into a state like that of Medina is baseless as the government did not even take a single step for it.
Chohan, rather than responding to the question, lambasted the journalist, saying that he should feel ashamed for asking such question.
“Media should not be an unguided missile. They should know what to ask and where to ask,” said the minister. “It should not ask questions which can raise conflict.”
It appears that the PTI leader has a penchant for issuing high-handed remarks, which eventually creates controversy for the party and the government.
Earlier, the minister was forced to tender an apology for his derogatory statements on female artists and news channels. At an event in Lahore last year, Chohan had said, “If I had the authority, I would have made Nargis offer Hajj and Megha keep as much as 300 fasts a year.”
Nargis had also slammed the minister for his derogatory, misogynistic remarks about the female artists. “Whoever this minister is, I have listened to his statement and I would only like to tell him that you are on a responsible post. Choose your words rightly,” she said. “Minister Sahib, every individual has respect; be careful next time or else every respectable person reserves the right to take legal action.”
Later in his message, Chohan apologised for his comments about certain news channels, a clip of which was widely shared on social networking platforms.
The minister had abused a private TV channel’s technical staff in reaction to being asked by a talk show host about his controversial remarks in the past.
