The Muslim Times’ Editor for Pakistan
Credit: Xpress Tribune
By Web Desk
Published: March 18, 2012
NEW DELHI: British writer Salman Rushdie taunted Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan as unable to handle Rushdie’s ‘bouncers’, after the latter pulled out of the India Today Conclave,NDTV reported on Saturday.
Imran Khan had pulled out of the function earlier in the week after learning that Rushdie too would be present, saying the writer had caused ‘immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe’.
India Today’s Editor-in-Chief had issued a statement, calling Khan’s move deeply regrettable.
On Saturday, when Rushdie took to the stage at the Taj in New Delhi, he made it a point to highlight the absence of the former cricketer from the event. “I have to thank Imran Khan. I was going to speak at a less important session. I thank him for this promotion and for vacating this spot.”
I hate the guts of this fellow Rushdie and would not mind taking a shot at him myself as I have done in:
http://open.salon.com/blog/mzafrullah/2011/05/19/rushdie_osama_and_pakistans_deadly_game
But I agree with his analysis of Iran Khan; albeit partly. I say “partly” because as in his writing career Rushdie has always adopted a myopic approach of saying/writing what would be acceptable to those who matter, he has taken a superficial approach and restricted himself to physical resemblance of Imran Khan with Gaddafi.
The way I see it Gaddafi posed as a philosopher and often came up with points that were pleasing to the masses; at least in the earlier part of his reign. Our Mr. Imran Khan, on the other hand, is also doing something like that. Starting with a sort of apologia for his past, blaming his past behavior on the then prevailing system and telling the gullible folks of Pakistan that he has now seen the light that Islam and Islamic culture are the best. Islam and Islamic culture are indeed the best but looking at his recent political moves that sound like give to the Mullah what is Mullah’s due I see him as just another gold digger who is now seeing beyond the skins of the sacrificed lambs.