June 21, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1428

LAHORE, June 20: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has called for a country-wide protest on Friday against conferring knighthood on controversial writer Salman Rushdie by Britain.

In a press statement on Wednesday, MMA president Qazi Husain Ahmad, secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other central leaders called upon prayer leaders to apprise the people in Juma congregations about the British government’s decision.

The MMA leaders appealed to the people to participate in demonstrations after Friday prayers to protest against the British government’s decision. They said the decision had come at a time when the world was facing a deep religious divide and badly needed peace and tolerance.

The MMA asked the British government to withdraw the title.