ISLAMABAD, June 22: The National Assembly on the suggestion of Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain unanimously adopted a resolution that said the British government and Prime Minister Tony Blair had “not only disappointed the Pakistani people but also injured their sentiments” by not withdrawing the knighthood granted to Salman Rushdie as demanded in an earlier resolution passed on June 18.

The resolution repeated its demand that the British government withdraw the award immediately and apologise to the “millat-i-Islamia”.

The start of day’s sitting in the morning saw members from both sides of the house trying to excel one another in displaying their Islamic fervour after PPP’s Naheed Khan complained that the Capital Development Authority staff had been used at the behest of Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ijazul Haq to put up banners against her party leader Benazir Bhutto for demanding the minister’s removal for making controversial remarks that appeared to justify suicide bombings, which he later retracted.—R.A

AFP adds: Speaking in the house, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz lashed out at Britain for awarding the knighthood.

“We condemn the decision to award a knighthood to Rushdie,” he said. “It has hurt the feelings of Muslims. Muslims will never tolerate derogatory remarks against the last Prophet Mohammed (PBUH),” Mr Aziz added.