IJAZ UL-HAQ AND INCITEMENT TO TERROR

That this House notes that Ijaz ul-Haq, the Religious Affairs Minister of Pakistan, is reported to have said, in the wake of the knighthood awarded to Salman Rushdie `If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so, unless the British Government withdraws the `Sir' title'; further notes that approximately 800,000 people of Pakistani and Kashmiri origin live in Britain and make an irreplaceable contribution to society; recalls with horror the London Tube suicide bombings of 7th July 2005, in which 52 people lost their lives and some 700 people were injured; is mindful of the present threat of terrorism to people of all religions in Britain; believes that Mr ul-Haq's remarks can reasonably be read as an incitement to terrorism; further notes that, although Mr ul-Haq has sought partially to withdraw his remarks, no condemnation of them has to date been forthcoming from a higher level within the government of Pakistan; and calls upon the UK Government to seek such a condemnation without delay.