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Pakistani singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performs at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert at the Oslo spectrum in 2014. Khan, one of the iconic singers of qawwali, a form of devotional music popular in Pakistan and beyond, was appointed as the trust’s ambassador by King Charles in 2017. Photo: AFP
This Week in AsiaPeople

King Charles’ charity cuts ties with Pakistani singer who attacked man in viral video

  • The British Asian Trust, started in 2007 to fight poverty in South Asia, has denounced Khan’s actions and ‘ceased any association’ with him
  • The incident took place in Texas last year after the singer vented his fury at his student for misplacing a bottle containing water from a spiritual leader
Pakistan
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A charity founded by Britain’s King Charles has cut its ties with renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan after a video of him violently attacking a man went viral on social media.
The British Asian Trust, started in 2007 to fight poverty in South Asia, denounced Khan’s actions, saying “we take all accusations of abuse seriously and we will look into this urgently”.

“The British Asian Trust has a strict policy towards abusive behaviour and has ceased any association with Mr Khan. We strongly condemn any form of violence, whatever the circumstances,” the institution said over the weekend.

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Khan, one of the iconic singers of qawwali, a form of devotional music popular in Pakistan and beyond, was appointed as the trust’s ambassador by Charles in 2017.

In the video that appeared to be secretly filmed, Khan was seen slapping and kicking a person, who he later revealed as his student Naveed Husnain.

The incident took place in Texas last year after the singer vented his fury at Husnain for misplacing a bottle containing water that was given to him by a spiritual leader, The News International reported.

Breaking his silence on the incident, Khan said it was an “internal” matter between him and his student.

“We do love a student over a good deed, as well as punish him if he commits a mistake,” the maestro said on Instagram, adding he had apologised to Husnain.

09:11

Britain’s King Charles III is officially crowned in ceremony watched by millions

Britain’s King Charles III is officially crowned in ceremony watched by millions

Husnain also played down Khan’s behaviour, saying, “God knows how much he loves us. Whoever has done this, is simply blackmailing my teacher to defame him”.

But Pakistani social media users poured scorn on Khan, urging fans to boycott him.

“Shame on you, you lost all the respect we had for you,” a commentator wrote on Instagram.

Said another: “You are not sorry you did it … you are sorry because you got exposed.”

Khan, the nephew of late legendary musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, has performed across the globe, including at the United Nations General Assembly.

He has lent his voice to several Bollywood songs, and was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Oxford University, which also named one of its music halls after Khan.

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