Imran pulls opts out of Delhi event over Rushdie’s presence

Khan says he 'could not even think of participating in any programme that included Salman Rushdie'.

Pakistan’s cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan today pulled out of an upcoming media conclave in New Delhi,citing the presence of controversial author Salman Rushdie at the same event.

In a statement issued by his Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party,Khan said he “could not even think of participating in any programme that included Salman Rushdie,who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe.”

Khan was scheduled to participate as a keynote speaker in the conclave. He expressed his regrets to the organisers.

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The statement said Khan “only received and saw the full programme of the conclave last evening and took action early this morning to cancel his participation”.

The organisers of the conclave announced yesterday that Rushdie would speak at the meet on the theme: “The Liberty Verses I am What I Am and That’s All That I Am”.

“We deeply regret that Imran Khan will not address the conclave because of Salman Rushdie’s participation,” said the organiser in a statement in New Delhi.

“The conclave is a platform for free and frank exchange of ideas. We do not endorse the views of any of our speakers but we do stand for the freedom of expression in all that we do; it’s an essential principle of a free nation and free media,” the organiser said.

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Rushdie was forced to withdraw from the Jaipur Literature Festival in January following protests by Muslim groups.

His 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses” is still banned in India for alleged blasphemy against Islam.