Sumsam Bokhari takes oath, succeeds Fayyaz Chohan as Punjab information minister

E-Paper | May 01, 2026

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Syed Sumsam Ali Bokhari on Wednesday was sworn in as Punjab's new information minister, a day after his predecessor Fayyazul Hassan Chohan was forced to resign from the position over his derogatory remarks directed against the Hindu community.

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar administered the oath to Bokhari in a ceremony held at the Governor House in Lahore. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also attended the ceremony.

Bokhari, who joined PTI in 2015, was elected to the Punjab Assembly from PP-201 (Sahiwal-VI) constituency in last year's general elections.

Also read: Bigoted minister

Bokhari's succeeds Chohan, who was forced to relinquish his ministry on Tuesday amid intense criticism on social media and from his fellow party leaders over his derogatory remarks directed against the Hindu community.

The chief minister's spokesperson had initially told DawnNewsTV that Chohan had resigned, however, PTI later clarified that the firebrand leader was in fact "removed", adding that "bashing someone’s faith should not be a part of any narrative."

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

'Never underestimate power of social media': Twitterati welcome Chohan's removal over anti-Hindu remarks

Will ensure minorities treated as equal citizens in Naya Pakistan, vows PM on Quaid's birth anniversary

Chohan finds no sympathiser in Punjab cabinet

Rizwan

Mar 06, 2019 11:41am

Good choice he knows how to talk a very balanced person. Wish him all the best

Recommend 0

Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Mar 06, 2019 12:41pm

Let's hope new Punjab's Information Minister acts wisely, maturely and professionally! (ACP - Gharib Awam ki Awaz).

Recommend 0

Anwar Qureshi

Mar 06, 2019 01:30pm

This is the best choice which PTI has made after all; thank you.

Recommend 0

Zain Ansari

Mar 06, 2019 02:59pm

This guy used be in PPP, what a tabdeeli! Never voting for PTI ever again

Recommend 0

Kamil Paracha

Mar 06, 2019 03:01pm

Shamsan Bukhari is good choice, but regret to say PTI is completely become PMLN (Buzzadar CM) and Shamsan PPP ( as info Minister) where is PTI ? I think PTI have no qualified members ? Chohan is die heart member, fighters and good workers.

Recommend 0

Last comment

Mar 06, 2019 03:10pm

Only PTI can take such bold steps

Recommend 0

ZAK

Mar 06, 2019 04:18pm

Wrong decision in rush. When he already apologized, then why commit all the demands of the opposition. Very weak decision makers of PTI.

Recommend 0

Javed

Mar 06, 2019 04:25pm

Congratulations! I hope the new minister takes heed from what happened to his predecessor.

Recommend 0

Tariq Rashid

Mar 06, 2019 06:16pm

Chohan otherwise good individual but recently been found out of senses, position doesn't mean you have a free license to do whatever you like. He should not be given any position as a punishment for at least some months..

Recommend 0

Javed

Mar 06, 2019 08:07pm

@Zain Ansari, you were never PTI to begin with.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.