Pakistan’s ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday suspended a senior leader for putting up banners with anti-Hindu remarks, Anadolu Agency reported quoting local media Saturday.
Featuring the images of Pakistan’s founder leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Prime Minister Imran Khan and a local PTI leader Mian Akram Usman, the posters were put up in various parts of the northeastern Lahore city in relation to the Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5.
Usman, the secretary-general of the party's Lahore wing, had immediately apologized for the anti-Hindu remarks on the posters but blamed the pressman for "mistaking the word Modi for Hindu."
It’s mistakenly written by printer “Hindu” instead of “Modi” I apologies all peacefully living “Hindus” living both sides of the border. pic.twitter.com/rYR6fta356
— Mian Akram Usman (@toakram) February 5, 2020
"I had asked him (pressman) to print the word Modi, but he mistakenly printed it as Hindu," Usman was quoted as saying by Pakistani broadcaster Geo News.
"I apologize to all peaceful Hindus living on both sides of the border," Usman said on Twitter, adding that all the posters carrying such remarks were immediately taken down.
"I am not the one who [is] stuck on mistakes," he added.
Discrimination should not be tolerated.
— Sumeet (@gratified__) February 8, 2020
Mian Akram Usman, general secretary, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf is suspended from his post due to his discriminating behaviour against Hindu Community.
Thanks to all who raised voice against his derogatory remarks.
United we stand✊ pic.twitter.com/UEbW9AAmgJ
However, dissatisfied with his excuse, the party suspended his membership, noting that the inflammatory slur targeting a minority community was a "violation of the party's policy."
Last year, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, information minister of Punjab province, was sacked by the party chairman and Khan for his insulting remarks about Hindu community. He, however, was reinstated after a few months.
