Renowned Qawwali singer Amjad Sabri shot dead in Pakistan

Sabri, 45, and an associate were travelling in a car in Karachi’s Liquatabad 10 area when unidentified motorcycle- borne gunmen fired at their vehicle, critically injuring them.

The two were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed hospital, where Sabri succumbed to his injuries. His associate also died. “Sabri was shot in the chest and head and he was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital immediately, where he succumbed to his injuries.

His associate was also killed in the targeted attack,” a police official said.Additional police surgeon Dr Rohina Hasan confirmed Sabri’s death. He was shot thrice twice in the head and once on the ear.

Amjad Sabri was the son of renowned Qawwal Ghulam Farid Sabri whose family is famous in the subcontinent for their contribution to this sufi art and mystic poetry.

Sabri was one of Pakistan’s finest qawwals, known for his soul-stirring renditions of mystic poetry.

Some of the most memorable and famous qawwalis of the Sabris were ‘Bhar Do Jholi Meri’, ‘Tajdar-i-Haram’ and ‘Mera Koi Nahin Hai Teray Siwa’. 

Sabri, who travelled widely to Europe and USA for his concerts, was known as the “rockstar” of Qawali due to his modern style of rendition.

His killing comes just two days after the son of the Sindh High Court Chief Justice was kidnapped and it raises serious concern about the security situation in Pakistan’s biggest city. This week a doctor belonging to the minority Ahmadi community was also shot dead in his clinic by gunmen.

Opposition politicians have described Sabri’s killing as a total failure of the provincial government to ensure proper law and order situation in Karachi which is the economic hub of the country.

The spokesman for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insasaf party, Naeem ul Haq, called for those involved in heinous crimes to be given exemplary capital punishment.