July 12, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 11: Major (retd) Ihtesham Kiyani has decided to return the gallantry award conferred on his grandfather late Raja Sikandar Khan by King George VI of the United Kingdom, as a mark of protest against Salman Rushdie’s knighthood.

In a letter written to Queen Elizabeth II, through the British High Commissioner in Pakistan, he said “once a source of untold pride and honour, the medal had lost its shine because of conferment of knighthood on Salman Rushdie”.

“My family, protesting your judgment, takes no more pride in the medal and returns it to you through the British High Commission in Islamabad,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, Mr Kiyani said: “We do not want to be part of the system which decorates our ancestors and a blasphemer at the same time.”

He urged the people to follow the suit not to prefer worldly gains over respect and honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). “Salman Rushdie contributed nothing to the British society and it was unfair to confer an award on him,” he said, adding that Muslims worldwide felt hurt by the step taken by the Buckingham Palace.

Raja Sikandar Khan, superintendent police, died in 1949 in Gujranwala. He had carried out a raid in Essa Khel in 1940 and killed a wanted notorious criminal and arrested few others. King George VI conferred upon him the gallantry award on July 15, 1940.

Answering to a question, Mr Kiyani said that he had written a letter to the British Queen, expressing his intention to return the medal on June 29.

He said on July 4, he received a response from Acting British High Commissioner Simon J Butt in which he said: “It is, of course, a matter of regret that you feel moved to take this step but your opinions in the matter are respected. It will not be possible to arrange an appointment with you. You are free to return the medal by posting it to the British High Commission.”

Mr Kiyani said he would send the medal to the British High Commission on Thursday.