Pak officer in Centre ad embarrasses PMO

A government advertisement on Sunday turned into a source of embarrassment as it carried a photograph of a former Pakistan Air Force Chief along with Indian leaders and icons, forcing the Prime Minister’s Office to apologise and order a high-level probe into the goof-up.

In an advertisement issued by the ministry of women and child development, which appeared in a leading English daily, the photo of former Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed appeared along with those of the PM, Dr Manmohan Singh and the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The advertisement was meant to mark National Girl Child Day.

The PMO quickly issued an apology. “The Prime Minister’s Office has noted with regret the inclusion of a foreign national’s photograph in a Government of India advertisement. While an internal inquiry has been instituted, the PMO apologises to the public for this lapse,” it said.

The BJP said the inclusion of the photograph was in “consonance” with the thought process of the Congress and demanded a clarification from the Prime Minister on whether there was any change in the relations with that country.