KARACHI, June 21: Enraged over British government’s decision to give a knighthood to Salman Rushdie, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Thursday renounced the titles bestowed on his elders by the British rulers of India.

Addressing a news conference at his official residence, Dr Rahim declared that he was renouncing the medal given to his grandfather Arbab Mir Mohammad by King George VI on May 12, 1937, and the title of Khan Sahib awarded to his uncle Arbab Togachi by the British government in Delhi on Jan 1, 1945.

He said that no self-respecting Muslim would tolerate the British government’s decision to bestow knighthood on Salman Rushdie against whom a fatwa had been issued for his malicious and sacrilegious writings against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the religion of Islam.

Dr Rahim appealed to all Muslims to peacefully register their protest and renounce all the titles given to their family members by the British government so that the UK government could understand the degree of Muslim world’s anger.

It was an unusual protest by Dr Rahim because awarding people posthumously is a well-known practice, but to renounce it on behalf of the deceased is something new.

From the analogy drawn by the chief minister for his decision it appeared the declaration was more aimed at extracting political advantage against PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto rather than embarrassing the British government.

This was evident when he named many people from Sindh who were awarded titles of Sir, Khan Bahadur and Sardar Bahadur. He mentioned the names of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, grandfather of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Sindh’s first chief minister Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah, and many others.

He demanded that Ms Bhutto should also renounce her grandfather’s title to show solidarity with the Muslims. “If Benazir considers herself supporter of Muslims, then she must renounce that title,” said Mr. Rahim. He also deplored the role of the PPP in the Sindh Assembly and alleged that when a resolution against the British government’s decision was being passed it did not support it.