WASHINGTON, Feb 27: PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain urged religious and political groups in Pakistan on Monday not to associate US President George Bush’s visit with the controversy over the blasphemous cartoons.

“There’s no link between the two … please do not use a religious issue which has hurt the sentiments of all Muslims to make political gains,” said Mr Hussain. Talking to Pakistani journalists at the residence of a local physician, the PML leader also regretted the move by some groups to use the controversy for launching a campaign against the government.

“How do they connect the two? Did President Musharraf or the Pakistani government ask Danish cartoonists to make those blasphemous cartoons,” he asked.

Commenting on the decision by religious groups to observe a general strike on the day President Bush arrives in Pakistan, Mr Hussain said it was unfortunate that these groups were exploiting their attachment to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) for whipping up people’s sentiments.

“Now if I say please do not observe the strike, they will say I am favouring the cartoonists … It is so unfair,” said Mr Hussain.

“The cartoons have hurt everybody and Chaudhry Shujaat is no exception, but they must ask themselves if it’s right to observe a general strike during such an important visit?”

Mr Hussain disagreed with journalist who suggested that the campaign against the cartoons might ultimately lead to the removal of the Musharraf government.