NEW DELHI, Aug 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has backed a move to expunge a 1924 ruling by a British judge making derogatory remarks against the Punjabi community.

According to an Online report, the president affirmed his support when Indian lawyer Sonia Raj Sood met him recently in Islamabad.

A portion of the judgment, handed down by the Lahore High Court that was headed by a British judge at the time, says: “It is well-known that inhabitants of Punjab at the time of death not only accuse the actual offenders but also include the names of other enemies and hence their dying declaration is unacceptable as a basis of conviction.”

According to Ms Sood, this collectively terms all Punjabis as ‘liars’ and tramples on their pride and esteem.

After meeting with President Musharraf, Ms Sood said: “I was with Pakistan’s president for nearly 15-20 minutes. He assured me of looking into the matter and conveyed his warm respects and regards to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his best wishes to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. I also conveyed to him the greetings and best wishes of the people of India on his 62nd birthday.”

Ms Sood has also sought an apology from British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the remark.

“Mr Tony (Blair) has to say a sweet word of sorry because it is an insult for my community,” Ms Sood was quoted as saying in a report filed by the IANS news agency.

Ms Sood is on a world tour to muster the support for the Punjabi community and has also written letters to the Indian and Pakistani presidents to use their good offices to solicit apology from the British prime minister.—Online