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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Suicide' minister may go to UK | 'Suicide' minister may go to UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Pakistani minister who said that the knighthood given to British author Salman Rushdie could justify suicide attacks has said he may visit the UK. | The Pakistani minister who said that the knighthood given to British author Salman Rushdie could justify suicide attacks has said he may visit the UK. |
| Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul Haq said his visit may happen next month. | Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul Haq said his visit may happen next month. |
| He said that extremists could justify suicide attacks because the knighthood insulted the Prophet Muhammad. | He said that extremists could justify suicide attacks because the knighthood insulted the Prophet Muhammad. |
| An official in the British embassy in Islamabad said that the minister was a regular visitor to Britain, and no steps would be taken to stop him. | |
| 'Misunderstandings' | |
| "I am not aware of any specific invitation being given to him, and I do not know whether he holds an up-to-date visa," the official told the BBC News website. | |
| Mr Haq told the AFP news agency that he may travel to the UK as part of a delegation invited to discuss the most effective ways of engaging khateebs and imams (sermon deliverers and prayer leaders) in "constructive dialogue". | Mr Haq told the AFP news agency that he may travel to the UK as part of a delegation invited to discuss the most effective ways of engaging khateebs and imams (sermon deliverers and prayer leaders) in "constructive dialogue". |
| The knighthood has generated anger in Pakistan | |
| "The visit would also help clear many things and misunderstandings about my remarks about the knighting of Salman Rushdie by Britain," the minister said. | "The visit would also help clear many things and misunderstandings about my remarks about the knighting of Salman Rushdie by Britain," the minister said. |
| The minister - who is the son of Pakistan's former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq - said that the itinerary of his visit has not yet been finalised. | |
| Correspondents say that Mr Haq met a delegation from Britain on Monday to discuss ways in which the UK could establish better contacts with the Islamic world and combat extremism. | |
| "We are committed to curbing terrorism and extremism in society but the Western world should also play its due role to eradicate these problems," Mr Haq said. | |
| 'Blasphemous' | |
| Earlier this week, the British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Robert Brinkley, expressed "deep concern" over Mr Haq's comments about suicide attacks. | |
| Mr Brinkley was summoned to the Pakistani foreign ministry to explain the UK's decision to give the knighthood to the British author, which entitles him to be called Sir Salman. | |
| Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution on Monday condemning the award. | |
| Sir Salman has said he is thrilled by the honour | |
| Sir Salman's book, The Satanic Verses, was published in 1988, and a fatwa against him was issued the following year by Iran's spiritual late leader Ayatollah Khomeini, calling for his execution. | |
| The book describes a cosmic battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and farce. | |
| It was condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. | |
| The fatwa forced the author to go into hiding for several years. | |
| Sir Salman, 60, was one of almost 950 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement. |