“I can never imagine mocking our martyrs,” Anwar Maqsood apologises for his remarks

Renowned writer and satirist Anwar Maqsood apologised for his remarks regarding Pakistan's naval forces, stating he could never imagine mocking martyrs and vowing to refrain from such humor in the future.

Addressing the controversy during the Aalami Urdu Conference at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi, Maqsood also dismissed rumors of his alleged abduction.

“Several friends and family members have been calling and asking if I was abducted, but I want to clarify that these reports are baseless,” he said.

Responding to the criticism he faced for a jibe directed at the army and navy, Maqsood expressed deep regret. “I could never imagine mocking our martyrs. Their sacrifices are the reason I am alive today and able to write,” he said.

Explaining his remarks further, he added, “I only make humorous comments about people who are alive, but I will no longer do so. Many people in the navy are my friends, and I intended no harm. However, I will not make such jokes again.”

Maqsood revealed that some of his friends and family members associated with the navy had grown distant from him due to the controversy. “If anyone was hurt by my comments, I apologise to them,” he stated.

Earlier, Maqsood's remarks about the naval forces during his speech at the Aalami Urdu Conference went viral on social media. While some viewed them as light-hearted humor, others found them disrespectful to the armed forces and their martyrs.