June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

LAHORE, June 21: The Punjab Assembly session on Thursday witnessed two walkouts, fiery speeches and sloganeering over award of knighthood to Salman Rushdie, besides usual score settling and mudslinging.

“I will myself assassinate blasphemous Salman Rushdie, if I get a chance,” Punjab Assembly Speaker Afzal Sahi said while chairing the house.

Mr Sahi gave this statement while wrapping up the aggressive discussion on Salman Rushdie that began after pointing out of a news item published in the national press that PPP leader Benazir Bhutto had criticised federal religious affairs minister Ijaz-ul-Haq’s statement that suicidal attacks against the British author were permissible.

The speaker said blasphemy was a religious issue and there could be no compromise on it. When opposition leader Qasim Zia asked whether suicidal attacks were permissible under Islamic injunctions, Mr Sahi said Rushdie was a blasphemer and liable to be murdered. “Now it is up to the killer whether he sacrifices his own life while completing the mission,” he said. He also added that there were hundreds of instances where killers also shoot themselves after killing their targets.

Mr Sahi said he was a Muslim first and then came the worldly offices, adding he would stand by his words, which he termed voice of his heart.

Opposition’s Sameeullah Khan said as the house considered suicidal attacks were permissible, those who made such attempts on President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s life had also deemed their action justified.

Earlier, social welfare minister Saba Sadiq said the Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto had advocated Salman Rushdie when she asked whether the suicidal killing was permissible or not.

As soon as opposition’s Ejaz Samma rose and said it was Benazir’s private matter, the treasury benches raised Shame, Shame, Shame slogans.

Treasury’s Makhdoom Ashfaq said there was no need to issue this statement.

In the meantime, Population Welfare Minister Nasim Lodhi said that she along with some of her women colleagues would walk out from the house to protest against Benazir’s remarks. As the minister and a couple of women MPAs moved towards exit, Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi entered from the other door. Seeing him, all the women MPAs returned to their seats.

Law minister Raja Basharat reminded the session that on raising of the issue by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPAs, the entire house passed a resolution against Salman Rushdie a couple of days back, so the treasury members expected MMA to join the walkout. Raja added that Benazir’s statement showed PPP’s double standards. “We protest against this duplicity and stage a token walkout,” he added. After that the treasury members walked out of the house without MMA members joining them.

As the treasury members returned, MMA’s Arshad Baggu said they also did not approve Benazir’s statement. Muhammad Waqas said the MMA members would also stage a walkout as the alliance did not approve blasphemy. At this, the MMA members left the house.

Meanwhile, the women treasury members continued to chant slogans - “Down with Benazir”. They also raised placards bearing inscription, “Rushdie ki tasveer, Benazir Benazir.”

Qasim Zia said Islam was a religion of fraternity and it never promoted hatred.

Communication and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said the sense of fraternity could not be shared with a blasphemer.