The man who would be king of Afghanistan plans to have lunch with some prominent Georgians Thursday at the Commerce Club and explain the situation in that Soviet-occupied nation.
The luncheon is sponsored by Atlanta attorney Edwin Marger on behalf of Hassan Murrani, who claims to be descended from a long line of Afghan royalty.
Guests will include Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner, Fulton County Commission Chairman Milton Farris, state bar association President Kirk McAlpin, defense attorney Bobby Lee Cook, aids to Sen. Sam Nunn and Rep. Wyche Fowler, and Mitchell WerBell III, a consultant on counter-terrorism who lives in Powder Springs, according to Marger’s secretary, Didi Nelson.
The affair is not for the purpose of raising funds but merely "a get-acquainted-with-the-king luncheon," Ms. Nelson said.
Murrani is in Atlanta to attend WerBell’s "Cobray" school of self-defense and to consult with WerBell on possible methods of dealing with the Soviets who overran Afghanistan last year.
"He’s my guest out here," WerBell said.
WerBell added that the luncheon is "just for him to meet Atlantans and for him to describe the plight of Afghanistan, explain the diplomatic moves still available to use against the Russians."
Murrani’s father, King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan, abdicated in 1929, but Murrani is still considered in some quarters to have a legitimate claim to the throne.
He is hoping to raise enough money while in America to finance a successful military operation to free the country from its present Soviet rule.