Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan recently found himself at the center of controversy after a video of him beating a student went viral on the internet. The video showed the singer using a footwear to discipline the student while inquiring about the whereabouts of a bottle. As the incident sparked outrage among netizens, Rahat has now defended his actions by calling it a personal matter.
In response to the backlash, Rahat took to his social media to release a clarification video alongside the student involved and the student’s father. He justified his actions as the unique relationship between a teacher and his student.
“The videos you are seeing are a personal issue between an ustad and shagird (teacher and his disciple). He is like my son. This is how the relationship is between a teacher and his disciple. If a disciple does something good, I shower my love on him. If he does something wrong, he is punished,” Rahat explained in the video.

In the viral video, when Rahat asked the whereabouts of the bottle, the student admitted misplacing the bottle, which contained holy water, blessed by a religious cleric who recited verses over it.

In the clarification video, the student expressed his loyalty to his teacher and stated, “He’s like my father. He loves us a lot. Whoever spread this video is trying to defame my ustad.” The singer also revealed that he had apologized to the student after the incident. The student’s father also came forward to defend Rahat.