Islamabad 19 August : The former Pakistan Premier Imran Khan has criticized the assault on Salman Rushdie, calling the attack as “terrible” and “sad” and said that although the anger of the Islamic world over the book’s author “The Satanic Verses” was acceptable, it was not enough to justify the attack. In an interview with the Guardian, Khan also said he was expecting Afghan women to “assert their rights” in the face of Taliban restrictions in which he attempted to moderate his image as a flamboyant leader.
He is fighting to keep his political position after being sacked from the office in April.
Khan claims that his followers and staff are being harassed and beaten and he is fighting eight-year-old accusations of illegal campaign financing which could result in him being barred from politics.
A decade ago, Khan pulled out of an event in India because Rushdie would also be in attendance as a guest.The two men engaged in a verbal exchange however, he hasn’t appeared to have expressed his support for violence against the author from India.
His denial of the assault is striking but in an area where the majority of politicians have shied away from discussing the issue, The Guardian reported.
Khan was asked about his reaction in the wake of the attack with a knife in New York state that left Rushdie severely injured, Khan said: “I think it’s horrible sad.
“Rushdie was understood, since he was born into an Muslim family.He is familiar with the love, respectand reverence of Prophets that live in our hearts.He understood that.
“So the anger I felt was understandable however, you aren’t able to justify the events that took place.”
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