Earlier this month, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) asked two Indian show promoters to cancel their shows with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan amid the Indo-Pak rift.
Similarly Indian artists working with Pakistani promoters were prohibited from doing so and they too had to cancel shows.
“We have received a poster where you are promoting the concert of Pakistani artist, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in USA and Canada from 4th October, 2019 to 20th October, 2019,”
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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s producer and global promoter Salman Ahmed addressed the issue in a press statement. He condemned the move by the FWICE.
Salman also adds that no one can stop their shows. While he was disappointed about the whole thing, he was expecting this to happen given the recent turn of events between the two neighbors.
“I’m not only surprised but rather disappointed at the acumen of learned people that they feel shows and efforts of hundreds of people will just be put to waste by feeble threats of people/organisations.”
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He feels let down by the fact that they would see many people leaving with the crackdown on artists working with anyone remotely Pakistani. The ethnic and religious targeting was alarming for him, as he called it ‘a universal crime‘.
“Our shows and tours are not made out of Lego. There is a lot of time, efforts, money and most importantly sentiments of the artist and the audiences, which are at stake. As stated, no one can and will stop our shows unless the Almighty wants to. Our tours globally, be it Australia, USA, Canada, UK, UAE, Oman, are all going ahead. Be it Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan or other artists, they are not bothered by this neither are the promoters. Spreading hatred is a universal crime and no one has ever done this to artists irrespective of race or religion.”
via InStep
