To condemn the award of knighthood title to Salman Rushdie, Pakistan Medical Association's (PMA) Multan chapter, doctors observed 'black day' on Tuesday and wore black armbands during their working hours in public hospitals, on the call of the PMA.
Dr Shahid Rao said," we are observing black day against United Kingdom for awarding knighthood title to a blasphemer Rushdie and we would stage a demonstration in front of Multan Press Club on July 3rd.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, PMA Multan Chapter Leaders Dr Muhammad Ali, Dr Salman Waris, Professor Dr Shahid Rao demanded the government of UK to withdraw the title of "Sir" from the Rushdie because this act had hurt the religious sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims.
Pakistan Christian People League (Masihi-Awami League)'s chairperson Ms Katheren Nazir demanded of British government to withdraw the knighthood award and vehemently condemn to award the title to a controversial writer." we express solidarity with our Muslim brethren on this issue and we condemn the award of knighthood title to Rushdie," Ms Katheren said while addressing a public meeting here today, which was also addressed by Omer-Hyatt Gill, Semuel Irfan, Semuel Shakaib, Dilbar-Jani, Fayyaz Bhatti, and DR Maqsood Ahmed Khan and they warned that government should not play with the religious sentiments of the masses in future and said that seats for minorities be increased in the next elections.
The meeting was attended by more than 700 people. Markazi Jamaat Ahle-Sunnat Pakistan staged a demonstration at Ibne Qasim Bagh as protest against awarding knighthood title to the author of satanic verses.
Sahibzada Muhammad Mian, Maulana Muhammad Zia-ul-Barvi, Mufti Haheez-ullah Mehrvi, Qari Abdul Ghaffar Naqshbandi and more than 200 clerics and students of religious seminary took part in it. They all were carrying placards, banners inscribed with slogans," Honour to Muslims' sentiments," Down with Rushdie", Down with Britain," Withdraw the title," Not to hurt our religious sentiments. They also burnt the effigy of Rushdie.