The Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has pulled out of a conference in Delhi because the author Salman Rushdie is booked to speak at the same event.
In a statement issued by his political party, Khan said he "could not even think of participating in any programme that included Salman Rushdie, who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe".
He apologised to the organisers and said he had only received the full programme the day before.
Khan draws much of his support from religious conservatives. He has often called for peace talks with the Taleban.
The World Cup-winning captain, who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was to have taken part in the India Today Conclave, organised every year in Delhi by a media group.
