Latif's highly outrageous remarks

THE reckless and irresponsible comments that the Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui made in New York on Sunday have grievously hurt sentiments of the Muslims involve as they did some basic tenets of Islam. He has previous record of getting away after making many remarks that would have caused revulsion. But given the enormity of the outrage he has committed this time through his irreverent utterances in a foreign land, the government should deal with his indiscretions with an iron hand.

A high level committee of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in its report had disclosed how during his previous stint as the textile and jute minister between 2009 and 2013 he abused his power with abandon in disinvesting some 48 state-owned enterprises (SoEs) in a non-transparent manner. It is equally important that he is held to account for those reported acts. One wonders how a man with such track record could be included in the cabinet second time. How could the government tolerate his improprieties for so long?

There are some strong indications of his dismissal from the cabinet. We suggest he be removed immediately followed by legal proceedings drawn against him for what amounts to hurting religious sentiments. At the same time, he must apologise to the public.

It is worth pointing out that there are some other ministers who make comments that are utterly unbecoming of the positions they hold.

Actually, Latif's case brings to the fore the question of choice of ministers and the liberty they are often given to conduct themselves the way they pleased.