The chief minister of Pakistan's Sindh province, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, has returned the knighthoods granted to his elders by the British colonial rulers in protest against London's decision to grant knighthood to author Salman Rushdie.
He made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Karachi.
Rahim said that he would not return lands as the colonial rulers did not give the same to his elders, The Nation quoted him as saying.
The British government had granted knighthood to Arbab Mir Mohammed, CM's grandfather on 12 May 1937 and Arbab Togachi, his uncle on January 1, 1945.
The chief minister, who spoke from a written text, said he had set a precedent that should be followed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose grandfather was also granted knighthood, and other Muslims as a 'civilised way of protest.' He regretted that certain European countries were involved in hurting the sentiments of Muslims.
He urged all Muslims to return knighthoods of their elders so the British government could understand their sentiments.
He admitted that the British colonial rulers had introduced some good things like good governance, judicial system, the rule of law, irrigation, railway and communication systems, which had benefited people in the subcontinent.
He recalled that several Muslims and Hindus had returned knighthoods during the movement against the colonial rulers.
The chief minister said he would return knighthoods to the British Council. He said the right to freedom of expression was subjected to certain limits.
