Pak asks Britain to withdraw knighthood to Rushdie

Islamabad, June 18 (UNI) Pakistan's National Assembly today unanimously condemed the grant of Knighthood to eminent writer Salman Rushdie by British Queen Elizabeth-II and demanded the withdrawal of the title.

Indian-born Rushdie, 59, triggered a furore in Islamic countries including Pakistan after writing the book 'Satanic Verses' in the late 1980s. The late Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had issued a Fatwa death warrant for Mr Rushdie in 1989 for writing the book.

The resolution, moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Khan Niazi urged the European countries, particularly the British Government, to avoid actions which are hurting the Muslim sentiments.

It demanded the British Government to withdraw the award immediately.

''There is a need to maintain peace in the world and for that purpose negotiations for interfaith harmony are imperative so that harmony among the different religions could be maintained,'' it stressed.

Foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam also deplored the decision of the United Kingdom to award-knighthood to Mr Rushdie.

Mr Rushdie tried to insult millions of Muslims through his writings, she told reporters at a press briefing, adding that by doing so Britain has shown insensitivity towards sentiments of Muslims.

UNI