Samsam Bukhari to take charge as Punjab Information Minister

LAHORE: The government has decided to appoint Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab, Samsam Ali Bukhari, as new Information Minister of the province after Fayyazul Hassan Chohan tendered his resignation earlier in the day, ARY News reported Tuesday.

Bukhari was called to the Chief Minister House, Punjab where he met CM Usman Buzdar and they exchanged views on Chohan’s resignation and his potential replacement.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar would administer the oath to Bukhari tomorrow (Wednesday).

Former minister of state and Pakistan People’s party (PPP) leader Samsam Bokhari had shifted his allegiance to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2015.

He won the provincial assembly seat PP-201 from Sahiwal on the PTI ticket in July 25, 2018 general elections.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to take action against Fayyazul Hassan Chohan over the controversial statement he made against the Hindu community.

Chohan’s derogatory statement against the Hindus irked PM Khan who directed provincial authorities to ask the Punjab information minister to tender his resignation. PM Khan issued strict directives to federal and provincial ministers, saying that such statements will not be tolerated anymore which hurt sentiments of believers of any religion.

Punjab CM House spokesperson Shehbaz Gill confirmed that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has met Chohan and accepted his resignation.

Gill on behalf of the Punjab government expressed dissociation with the derogatory statement of Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and expressed complete solidarity with the Hindu community.