PTI's Naeemul Haq apologises for 'Fatemi in China' tweet

Party's spokesperson says he was mistaken and confusion arose due to old picture

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Naeemul Haq, on Wednesday, apologised for claiming that Tariq Fatemi had gone on recent China visit with government delegation.

A day earlier, Haq had tweeted an old picture of the government officials meeting with the Chinese nationals during which Fatemi, the diplomat who was recently fired in the Dawn leaks controversy, was also present.

The PTI leader says he was mistaken on the issue and the confusion had arisen because of the old picture, adding that he apologised for the tweet which was also shared by another PTI leader, Shireen Mazari.



“Nawaz continues to deceive the nation. Tariq Fatemi accompanies him in China. So his being relieved of his duties was a lie. What a farce,” Haq had tweeted

To make matters worse, prominent PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, during a National Assembly session, expressed his party’s reservations over Fatemi ‘accompanying’ the premier even after his dismissal.

The photo, in fact, was of an MoU signing ceremony held on December 30, 2016, in Beijing.

Fatemi, following the “settlement” of the Dawn leaks issue, was removed from his post of adviser to the prime minister.



In reaction, information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb took to task the PTI leaders, terming their statements “highly irresponsible and regrettable.”

“PTI’s reporting on Tariq Fatemi at worst seditious and diabolic or at best ignorant and incompetent,” the state minister tweeted.

PTI's reporting on Tariq Fatemi at worst seditious and diabolic or at best ignorant and incompetent pic.twitter.com/04P1KdVmi0

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) May 16, 2017

Meanwhile, when asked if the top aide accompanied the premier during the visit, Aurangzeb told The Express Tribune: “No, he is not with him at all.”

When contacted, one of the senior PTI leaders, requesting anonymity, said, “It is unfortunate that some of our party leaders share news on social media without verification.”

Such acts, he added, only defame and bring shame or embarrassment to the party. “Even in the past, the political party faced a lot of criticism on similar actions,” he added.