Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s detention in India: The not so melodious surprise – by D. Asghar
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan may have his foes in India. There may be professional rivalry and prejudice and what have you, but his recent detention at New Dehli’s airport for allegedly carrying $124,000 in cash is sure another egg on our faces.
Pakistan High Commission officials, who were denied access to the Department of Revenue Intelligence, wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking consular access to Rahat. “This is no way to treat an artist. Rahat is an icon in Pakistan. If he was carrying excess cash it should have been confiscated. The artist should be allowed to go,” said G. Parthasarthy, former Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad. (Source)
Undoubtedly, Rahat is an icon in himself at this stage of his career. His defence for such an act is to say the least very weak. According to the electronic media, his comeback has been that he is a high school drop out and unfamiliar with the customs laws etc.
Being an ardent fan like many, I must say that I am utterly disappointed. It defies any reasonable intellect. This was not the first time that Rahat had done this “innocent blemish.” The large currency laws of almost every nation are fairly similar. Besides, according to the reports, the currency was being carried in the accompanied and the unaccompanied baggage.
Now every one, no matter how ignorant they are with the laws of any country, know that you do not let a large sum of money go into the baggages. Besides, no matter where you disembark, the “Customs Declaration” form is handed to you In the flights, almost prior to landing. The purpose is to acquaint you with the laws of the land, so you do not miss anything.
Rahat has been a frequent traveller not only to India but almost every part of the world. Last year in April, this scribe truly enjoyed his concert here in the US. He seems to be familiar with English and in his interviews has used English words and phrases. The impression, one gets that he can read, write and understand English. So he could easily comprehend what the “Customs Declaration” really means. Being an astute singer and businessman, he must be familiar with contracts as well. Mostly, those in India and most other countries are written in English. Even if he uses the excuse of all such matters being handled by his Agent or Manager, both were reportedly accompanying him.
Our charged friends in Pakistan are pegging this act of our hero into the usual “conspiracy hole.” There may be some truth, that some one tipped the Indian Customs. But the tip supposedly was genuine and a law was being broken. People who are using the usual pathetic reasoning of “so and so did it as well” are again solidifying the “dubious notoriety” of us Pakistanis. Whenever we are in a pickle, so to speak, its always someone else’s fault. That my friends is the “biggest national issue.”
As Pakistanis it seems we take laws of a land for granted. What the Indians did was not wrong and they just tried to implement their law. Off course many will ask that can India ensure that no smuggling of currency takes place and this may have been done to insult Pakistan. The thing is that Rahat fateh ali should have been more careful whereas the Indians should have been more considerate. However, most importantly, Rahat’s care on this issue would have avoided the whole episode.
It is not that the world conspires against Pakistanis, it is just that we give the world the option of “Rose Mary Marlow” (please read it in urdu).
It is really disappointing that a subcontinental icon like RFAK was trapped in unfortunate situation. The two guys accompanying him should be grilled too. One of them was Indian. If Rahat was not familiar with English the other two guys could have guided him.
He has brought shame to Pakistan like the cricketers Salman Butt, Asif and Amer. Their citizenship should be withdrawn and never allowed back in Pakistan.
Was RFAK not charged with trying to leave India with a large undeclared sum of money that is against the law?
Knowingly or unkowingly if he did the crime he must do the time.
The Pakistanis would have done the same if an Indian artist was flying out in a similar situation.
We need the rule of law for all and make no distinction between the rich, the famous or the infuential. This, by the way, our religion demands of us morese when we claim to live and die by it.
AFTER ONE TRIP OF INDIA, HE HAD EARNED SO MUCH MONEY, BUT HOW MUCH TAX HE PAYS IN A YEAR.HE PAYS VERY LITTLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR HIS TAXES. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF US PAKISTANIS,WHO MAKE VERY GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT WE DO NOT PAY TAXES. THAT’S WHY POOR WILL BE POOR AND RICHER WILL BE RICHER IN THIS COUNTRY. WE LOVE PAKISTAN BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO GIVE OUR SINGLE PENNY TO THIS COUNTRY.
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