MIANWALI, June 23: The knighting of British author Salman Rushdie has enraged the Bhachar family in Mianwali so much that they have decided to shed the titles conferred on their elder by the British government during the colonial rule. Rushdie is regarded a ‘blasphemer’ among many Muslims because of his controversial book.

MPA Malik Mumtaz Bhachar said he would return the medals and titles conferred on his grandfather Khan Bahadur Malik Muzaffar Khan Bhachar by the British government a century ago. He said he was doing so to show his resentment over awarding knighthood to the controversial author by the British government.

He said the British government had awarded his late grandfather titles Khan Bahadur, Honorary Captain, Member of the British Empire, and Commander of the British Empire.

BOYCOTT: Lawyers observed a complete strike boycotting court proceedings and took out a rally to express their solidarity with Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. They raised slogans against the government, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Salman Rushdie. A large number of lawyers left for Multan to attend a lawyers’ convention organised by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, Multan bench.