Pakistan fatwa minister 'to quit'

Nilofar Bakhtiar was pictured after a paragliding flight

Pakistan's Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar has submitted her resignation after strong criticism from hardline Islamist clerics.

Last month, a fatwa was issued against her after she was pictured hugging a man following a paragliding flight.

The clerics described Ms Bakhtiar's behaviour as obscene. She said the photo was misleading.

The tourism minister made the jump in France in March to raise money for victims of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

'Noble cause'

Shortly afterwards newspapers published photographs showing her hugging her elderly instructor.

I have taken the decision due to unavoidable circumstances Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar Does fatwa promote bigotry?

Hardline clerics at the radical Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) Islamabad issued a religious edict condemning her behaviour, saying it violated Islamic morality.

At the time she vowed not to be intimidated but officials have confirmed reports that she has now handed in her resignation.

"Despite my exceptional commitment to the cause of tourism in Pakistan, I have taken the decision due to unavoidable circumstances," she said in a letter faxed to newspapers.

The madrassa administration is accused of being 'extremist'

"French media praised my daring attempt but unfortunately some irresponsible elements in Pakistan presented this noble cause in a malicious manner," she told the Dawn newspaper.

She was quoted as saying she had been hurt by the way the issue was sensationalised and that her parachute jump had been for a noble cause.

Earlier she had shrugged off the clerical criticism, saying she would do another jump for a good cause.

"We don't need to be intimidated by these people," she told Reuters Television in April.

"I have no regrets... I would do it again happily if it helps the people of Pakistan."

'Extremism'

It is not clear if the prime minister will accept Ms Bakhtiar's offer to resign.

But the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad say the incident highlights a growing climate of extremism in Pakistan.

In February a female provincial minister was shot dead by a man who, police said, did not think women should be in politics.

The clerics who denounced the tourism minister have set up their own vigilante anti-vice squads in the capital.