The British Asian Trust has announced its decision to sever ties with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan following the circulation of a video depicting the singer physically assaulting a band member.
A spokesperson for the anti-violence organization, founded by King Charles III, informed a private TV channel that the decision to disassociate from Rahat was made after a thorough review of the video.
The Trust’s spokesperson conveyed, “The British Asian Trust maintains a strict policy against abusive behavior and has terminated any association with Mr. Khan.
We unequivocally condemn all forms of violence, regardless of the circumstances.” The Trust issued a weekend statement, pledging to urgently investigate all abuse allegations.
The video captured Rahat aggressively attacking a band member in Houston, Texas, last year, employing slaps, kicks, and even his shoes, despite pleas to cease.
Responding to the controversy on Saturday night, Rahat addressed the matter, asserting that the reality differed from what was apparent in the video.
A person identified as Rahat’s student, involved in the incident, explained that the “bottle” mentioned in the video contained water provided by a spiritual leader, which he had misplaced.
Defending Rahat, he emphasized their close relationship, stating, “He is [like] my father, my teacher. Whoever has done this is simply blackmailing my teacher to defame him.”
Rahat, in a video statement on his official Instagram account, described the incident as an internal matter between a teacher and a student. He acknowledged forgetting a bottle of water given by his spiritual healer and apologized to his student, Naveed Husnain.
In a separate video, Husnain disclosed that Rahat had apologized to him, expressing embarrassment over the incident. He affirmed Rahat’s status as his teacher, asserting, “He can do whatever he wants with me.”
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who had met King Charles as the Trust’s ambassador, is considered the greatest living singer of Qawwali, a genre of music prominent in Pakistan with roots in the poetry and music of Islamic mystics (Sufis).
The Trust, founded by King Charles in 2007 to address poverty and foster community relations, has Rahat as one of its ambassadors since 2017.
At the trust’s fourth annual dinner in February 2017, Prince Charles, the President of the trust, appointed Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as its ambassador.
The event raised £850,000 to support trust projects in South Asia, with Rahat’s performance receiving acclaim. Notable Pakistanis associated with the Trust include industrialists Mian Mansha from Lahore and Lord Zameer Chaudhry from London.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
