ISLAMABAD, June 21: The Pakistan Ulema Council on Thursday awarded its highest honour to Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, saying it was in reaction to Britain’s knighthood for writer Salman Rushdie.

“We are pleased to award the title of Saifullah to Osama bin Laden after the British government’s decision to bestow the title of ‘Sir’ on blasphemer Rushdie,” the council’s chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi told AFP.

“This is the highest title for a Muslim warrior.”—AFP