LAHORE, June 21: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said the Muslims all over the world are strongly protesting conferring of knighthood on Salman Rushdie, but he (the latter) is perhaps not so much worried over the situation. Equally unmoved is the PPP which seems detached from the protestors.

He said the provincial assembly was lamenting and wondering why PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto was advocating Salman Rushdie who had done immense damage to religion, according to a handout.

By staging a token walkout against the attitude of Benazir Bhutto and her party, he said, the PML MPAs had proved that they deplored the PPP’s stance over the issue.

Expressing these views while talking to mediamen at the Punjab Assembly on Thursday, the chief minister said Rushdie was guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) and conferring of knighthood on him by the British government had hurt the sentiments of the Muslims.

“It has caused anxiety and concern among the Muslims all over the world since it is an issue not restricted to Pakistan alone,” he said.