DUBAI: Renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been arrested in Dubai following a defamation complaint filed by his former manager Salman Ahmed, local media reported, citing Dubai police sources.
Khan, who arrived in Dubai early Monday (today) from Lahore for a musical collaboration, was taken into custody at the immigration center and subsequently transferred to the Burj Dubai police station for questioning and formal charges related to the complaint.
Details regarding the exact nature of the charges were initially not known. However, local media reported, citing sources within Khan’s management company, that they were awaiting further information on the matter.
Reports later revealed that Ahmed, Khan’s former manager, had lodged complaints against him with Dubai authorities. The dispute reportedly stemmed from Khan’s decision to dismiss Ahmed several months ago, leading to a legal confrontation between the two parties.
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Adding complexity to the situation, both Khan and Ahmed have reportedly filed counter cases against each other.
Khan, accompanied by his brother-in-law Bakka Burki during the trip, is currently looking after the legal proceedings. The seriousness of defamation charges in Dubai, particularly through social media channels, underscores the potential severity of the situation Khan faces.
Under UAE law, defamation via social media constitutes a serious offense, carrying penalties that range from substantial fines to imprisonment based on the impact and nature of the offense. Past cases have seen people fined hundreds of thousands of dirhams and sentenced to prison terms for similar offenses.
