A leading Pakistani Islamist cleric on Tuesday called for an end to diplomatic relations with Britain following its award of a knighthood to the author Salman Rushdie. Pakistan’s foreign ministry also summoned the British ambassador to deliver a formal protest.

In a sign of mounting friction over the issue, clerics belonging to the main Islamist opposition group the MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal) renewed calls for a day of protest this Friday when sermons delivered in mosques are to focus on Mr Rushdie’s case.