PTI leader blames 'printing error' for ‘shameful and ignorant’ banners

Muhammad Akram Usman claims printing press mistakenly wrote 'Hindus' instead of 'Modi' in the posters

Amid a social media backlash, a ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Lahore-based leader has come up with a clarification, seeking apology over the derogatory posters targeting the minority Hindu community of the country.

The banners, which were put up apparently in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day observed on February 5, featuring Mian Muhammad Akram Usman's photograph with his message: Hindu baat se nai laat se manta hai [Hindu cannot be talked into accepting, they have to be kicked into that]."

Taking to the microblogging website, the PTI leader blamed the printing press for mistakenly writing "Hindu" instead of name of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the poster.

"It’s mistakenly written by printer “Hindu” instead of “Modi” I apologies all peacefully living “Hindus” living both sides of the border," Usman wrote on Twitter.

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 (@akramusman_PTI) February 5, 2020

Reacting on the tweet, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said the PTI leader was reprimanded for his "shameful and ignorant" act, saying that the posters were removed immediately.

"He was reprimanded and posters were taken off immediately - a shameful and ignorant approach by the individual."

He was reprimanded and posters were taken off immediately - a shameful and ignorant approach by the individual. https://t.co/4HrFvZOMZj

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 6, 2020

Meanwhile, human rights activist Kapil Dev also jabbed at the PTI leader, saying that Usman should not have used the picture of "beloved" founder Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his "hate-filled" posters against the Hindu community.

"Sometimes in our jingoism we forget the fact that 4 million + Hindus live in #Pakistan too. Similarly, 200+ million #Muslims live in India too. Mr Usman, you should not at least used photo of my beloved Quaid Muhammad Ali Jinnah in you hate-filled poster against #Hindus."

Sometimes in our jingoism we forget the fact that 4 million + Hindus live in #Pakistan too. Similarly, 200+ million #Muslims live in India too.

Mr Usman, you should not at least used photo of my beloved Quaid Mohammad Ali Jinnah in you hate-filled poster against #Hindus. pic.twitter.com/ruHIzWjXzb

— Kapil Dev کپل دیو (@KDSindhi) February 5, 2020

Later, while responding to a Twitter user, the PTI leader said the posters had been taken off "immediately" after it came to his notice. "I'm not the one who [gets] stuck on mistakes," he insisted.

pic.twitter.com/gDOpcu8fEg

— Mian Akram Usman (@akramusman_PTI) February 6, 2020