Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari sworn in as provincial minister

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari was sworn in as Punjab provincial minister on Tuesday.

Bukhari was administered the oath by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar at the Governor House. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other provincial ministers.   

Bukhari will replace Fayyazul Hassan Chohan as Punjab information minister, who tendered his resignation a day earlier from his post as provincial information and culture minister over his anti-Hindu remarks.

Punjab CM spokesperson Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted welcoming Bukhari on-board as Punjab information minister.

Chohan tendered his resignation, after apologising for his anti-Hindu remarks as he faced severe criticism from senior members of his party's government and social media users. A day earlier, CM Buzdar had summoned Chohan at the CM House and asked him to tender his resignation.  

Chohan in his apology had said, "I was addressing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian armed forces and their media not the Hindu community in Pakistan."

"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 had 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."

The Punjab information minister had come under severe criticism from 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.

A video had gone viral of Chohan making the remarks while responding to Indian rhetoric in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.