PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Maulana Naseem Ali Shah has setback from his controversial remarks about national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, describing his earlier comments as a slip of the tongue.
In a clarification issued on Sunday, MNA Shah said he was a Pakistani who loved his country and that his previous remarks had been misrepresented by his political opponents.
He said Allama Iqbal was Pakistan’s national poet, a national hero and a source of pride for the country.
Mr Shah added that he himself followed Iqbal’s philosophy and said PTI workers and Pakistanis in general also held the poet in high regard.
The lawmaker said remarks he made about Allama Iqbal while addressing a political gathering in Bannu on Aug 14 had been presented by his opponents in a different context.
His earlier comments had drawn criticism on social media, with several users and political circles describing them as inappropriate and controversial.
Naseem Ali Shah, however, said his remarks were not intended to offend or disrespect Allama Iqbal and reiterated his respect for the national poet.
The clarification came after the remarks triggered criticism online, with his latest statement being viewed by some as a retreat from his earlier position.
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