POP/ROCK - Jan. 10, 1992

Jackson Concert Threatened: Pop superstar Michael Jackson has accepted a government invitation to perform in Islamic Pakistan on April 14, but whether the concert will take place is up in the air. The minister of culture and sports said Thursday that threats by religious leaders to close airports and organize street protests could force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to rescind the offer. Invitations were extended last year to Jackson and Madonna in an effort to portray the predominantly Muslim country of 120 million as a modern state tolerant of other cultures, customs and ideas. But, says the Jamaat-e-Islami (Party of Islam), “Michael Jackson does not represent our culture. Our position is clear. We will organize people to protest.”