Britain has voiced its 'deep concern' at reported comments by a Pakistani minister suggesting that the knighthood given to Salman Rushdie could justify suicide attacks.
Pakistan summoned the British ambassador to its foreign ministry amid mounting anger at the award of a knighthood to the author.
Pakistan's parliament has called for Britain to withdraw the award to Mr Rushdie, the Indian-born author of The Satanic Verses.
He was awarded a knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth for services to literature.
Salman Rushdie was forced to go into hiding for a decade in 1989 after Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a death sentence because of his book, saying it was blasphemous.
The British High Commissioner, Robert Brinkley, issued a statement yesterday defending the award and saying it was 'simply untrue that this knighthood is intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Mohammed.'
'Sir Salman's knighthood is a reflection of his contribution to literature throughout a long and distinguished career which has seen him receive international recognition for a substantial body of work,' High Commissioner Brinkley said.
