Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan Tuesday said having children with disabilities was a "wrath of God" invited by the people who commit sins and make unjust profits.

He was addressing the media persons along with Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid and was referring to the profiteers and hoarders who are making money by taking disadvantage of the coronavirus threat.

“Those traders who are following the ideology of ‘Apna Sab Kuch Banta, Bhar Mein Jaye Jaanta’ (I will make profit no matter what happens to other people) will get God’s punishment,” he said.

Chohan, who is known for issuing controversial and strange statements, said: “The consequences of committing wrongdoings come in the forms of having kids born with disabilities.”

Chohan’s apology

Later in a clarification video posted on his official twitter handle, the minister said: “The statement was against illegal and inhumane acts of profiteering amid the coronavirus pandemic and was not intended to hurt the hearts of people with disabilities.”

“I'm sorry,” the minister regretted.

Responding to the Chohan’s controversial statement, a visually impaired person Salman Siddique, told 24News Digital: “This is a very disappointing statement. What can we expect from common people when the sitting ministers give statements like this? I urge people to condemn the minister’s statement,” he said.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mizari said special children are not an azaab (wrath) but are special human beings to be cared for and loved and allowed to develop their own potential.

She said in a tweet that in fact no child can ever be wrath and for anyone to make such a cruel, inhumane statement was absolutely unforgivable and condemnable.

https://twitter.com/ShireenMazari1/status/1239864624478068736

Ex-Senator Farhatullah Baber termed the Chohan’s statement as ‘nauseating, sickening, shameful and disgusting.’

Secretary Information Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Azma Bokhari said Chohan was the spokesperson for the new Pakistan who was calling the disabled children as punishment of parents for their sins.

She said, “They have no fear of Allah.”

https://twitter.com/AzmaBokhari/status/1239873102651314176