Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
Email
Print
KARACHI: Thousands of fans, supporters and friends attended the funeral prayers of Amjad Sabri, the famed qawwal who was shot dead in broad daylight in Liaquatabad here a day earlier.
Sabri was laid to rest in the Paposhnagar Graveyard, next to his father, qawwali maestro Ghulam Farid Sabri.
His namaz-i-janaza was held after Zuhr prayers at Furqania Masjid in Liaquatabad, which is also where the renowned singer lived. Tearful mourners showered rose petals over an ambulance carrying the coffin of Sabri to his residence.
A wave of grief and shock gripped the country on Wednesday when armed motorcyclists sprayed Sabri with bullets in broad daylight in Liaquatabad area when the 45-year-old was heading to a private TV channel to perform in its Ramazan transmission.
Read: Amjad Sabri — The man behind a towering legacy
The killing was carried out on a day when the law enforcement agencies had claimed to have beefed up security in the wake of the kidnapping of the Sindh High Court chief justice’s son, Advocate Awais Ali Shah.
The assassination was widely condemned, with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah describing the incident as part of an “organised conspiracy to destabilise the city situation”.
According to an officer of the Sharifabad police station, Amjad Sabri left his home in Liaquatabad No 3 along with the friend at around 3pm. The qawwal was driving the car, Dawn newspaper reported.
The police believed that the motorcyclists chased the car on the main road in Liaquatabad No 10. But they didn’t overtake it until the car moved to the service road near the Gharibabad underpass, leading to Hassan Square. Finally, the motorcyclists intercepted the car on the service road and the masked pillion rider fired multiple shots at Sabri before fleeing. The sole target appeared to be Sabri as his colleague remained unhurt, said the police officer.
The Sabri legacy
Amjad Sabri was the nephew of qawwali icon Maqbool Sabri who passed away in 2011.
Maqbool Sabri along with his brother, the late Ghulam Farid Sabri, formed a formidable qawwali group in the mid-50s and became known for their soul-stirring renditions of arifana kalam (mystic poetry).
Maqbool’s nephew Amjad Sabri — who was tragically shot dead today in Karachi — was keeping the family tradition alive and was one of the most sought-after qawwals of the country.
Almost whatever the Sabri brothers sang became an instant hit. But some of their most memorable and famous qawwalis were Bhar Do Jholi Meri, Tajdar-i-Haram and Mera Koi Nahin Hai Teray Siwa.
They were equally well-versed in compositions made in the Persian language and sang Nami Danam Che Manzil Bood with equal ease and facility. The brothers’ rendition of Hazrat Amir Khusrau’s kalam was one of their marked areas of excellence.
Comments (52)
MashaAllah. Rest in peace my very the favorite singer,qawwal and Natkahwan .
RIP my dear
Sad .. RIP
Terrible news. Pakistan must find the killers and those behind the killers.
Sad News........ I have been a great admirer of Sabri Sahab. May his Soul Rest in Peace.
Why are artists targeted? He never said anything against Pakistan.
Ustaad Ghulam Ali Khan visits India frequently. Some people hold protests. But nobody goes for his life. Recently he held a concert in Calcutta. It was peaceful.
Terrorists and governance always gives the tears in the eyes of Pakistani nation since I Born I noticed. Feeling very sad. We miss you Sabri shaheb,
RIP great.
Rest in peace....
The government should put a reward up for his killers. I am sure they will then find out who killed him !!!
No words to describe this tragic killing. An innocent young man is killed in day light make no sense. He was such a natural talent which would be impossible to match.
In the hindsight, Adnan Sami made the right decision.
He was 40 not 45 years old. Do the math 1976-2016... Great guy
now blame raw agents . enough of cutting the grass , deal with the roots of the problem
RIP ... thousands gather for his last rites but no one will come if the situation present itself again. The evil is within us, and within our society
What is happening to the common man in Pakistan? Why such simple peace loving people are being targeted?
@Chunache , And my parents made the right decision to move to Pakistan .
RIP the Qawwali star
Nusarat Fateh Ali is highly adored in India. I'm sure you must have heard his songs in various Hindi movies. Art and Culture transcends borders! The top heros in Hindi movies are all Muslims.
Rest in peace. You gave this world nothing but love. The world is a cruel place. May you find nothing but peace and love in the afterlife. Your beautiful legacy and large following will haunt the haters and those cowards hidden behind masks who killed you for many years to come.
Sad . Religious intolerance and majoritarianism are the root cause of such violence. Secular teaching from childhood and separating religion from politics are the antidotes to extremism which should be applied as soon as possible to bring peace among people. Live and let live. I hope Peace will prevail soon.
RIP
Very sad. Hope the government does something about the situation in Karachi.
May his soul rest in peace. Government should take prompt action to aprehend the killers of Amjid Sabri.
I love Sufi music. Please don't kill this wonderful music of soul.
rip , u will be missed
On hearing this news one sinks. The sadness and grief from the passing of this God loving icon shatters the heart.
Sabri's death in a terrorist attack is a national loss. The Sabri family's contributions in projecting Pakistan as a peace loving country through Sufi music are praiseworthy. Equally important was their role in presenting Qawali as a piece of art on the international scene that stirred the soul through a strong message of love and mysticism. That terrorism continues to rob the nation of its artists, writers, poets, academicians, politicians and other professionals as well as innocent people is a national tragedy. These dark forces want to weaken and destabilize Pakistan. Unless we decide to end our internal divisions and differences, forge unity among our ranks and revive our national spirit, terrorism and extremism cannot be defeated. Let us stand as one nation, face the challenge and overcome it to ensure the future of Pakistan and it's coming generations.
What a big loss. My heart cries. Absolutely loved this guy. Rest in peace brother. The world will always miss you.
very sad news...
A true Martyr, passed away in Ramzan. Reset in Peace.
I am feeling SAD from heart, India is much better in that aspect...they are true secular and peaceful but in India media creats hype RIP Amjab sir " Bhar do Jholi"
Rest in peace. Sad.
Another innocent murder in the name of Islam. This is the picture of Islam these fanatics are painting .
Many have come...many have gone....no investigation...no one caught....nothing happened...nothing matters....period... end of story....
@Yasir : So correctly summed up! I pray for the soul to rest in peace. If Pakistan realizes that the enemy is within and not live in denial , then and only then there could be an end to these unfortunate killings. What a terrible loss..
RIP, you will live in our hearts forever. Sabri, you lived a respectful life and died with dignity. Your killers and haters are living a disrespectful life and so would they die.
we should all go and listen to live performances of qawwali in answer to these killers. They cannot win.
RIP Sabri Saheb.
Pakistan and its citizens need to take urgent corrective measures to stop this indiscriminate hatred. Else it might lose all its rich cultural heritage and become a wasteland similar to what Iraq and Syria are today.
any one arrested? what happened? attackers vanished in thin air?
Few people come in this World with a genuine friendly smile Amjad Sabri was one of them. Rest in Peace my friend.
Rest in Peace! The great asset of Pakistan lost....
Rest in peace Sabri Sahib. You will be missed. Find and punish the killers. We need swift military operation to clear the terrorists.
The world lost a great gift to mankind. These barbaric people will meet their maker and get right justice.
Sick and brain washed people around creating havoc......and without end.
May God bless Amjad Sabri Qawal.....wonderful person inside out.....no match.
This has really saddened by day
RIP Sabri sb
RIP qawwal maestro
You and your heart stirring rendition of mystical poetry will be sorely missed
This how you carried Janaza? The van cannot move one inch.
Govt must wake up and if the Motor cycle is the favourite means of Assasins then all motorcycles in Karachi and the rest of the country should be strictly registered and monitored and informers paid good money for reporting suspicious motorcyclists.
RIP. Whole India is praying for him and his family. We will remember him.
may u rest in eternal peace,such a sweat soul you were.alas you left us in grief and pain
I am at an utter loss of words. Growing up in Pakistan, I knew Ghulam Farid Sabri qawal's work. Then I moved away to US so lost touch with Amjad Sahib's work. Now listening to his music on line, I am thoroughly moved and sad that he is no longer among us. Just when it seems Karachi is stabilizing, then the dark clouds start looming again over the city. God keep Karachi safe. RIP Amjad Sahib !
Shaan, California
Great loss
@Arshad, Canada. If you are a real fan of Sabri Sahaab; you shouldn't be commenting on Chunace's personal opinion especially when you have left Pakistan for Canada where I also live. Music & Professionals knows no territories and will flow towards its followers/land of opportunities in any country, be it Adnan Sami or any artist, or for that matter you or me as a professional. However , See the issue is not about you or me or our parents but about a great singer qawwal who was shot dead and maybe except a statement from the PM and condolences or lip service from few politicians, no action will be taken and people will forget the culprits who caused his death but not of course his music which will stay alive in the hearts of his fans who will miss him across the continent. People have a right to voice their personal opinions in such situations. The loss is to the entire community and fan followers apart from his family. May Sabri Sahaab's soul RIP.
RIP. Our artists are soul of the nation. It will be too tragic if we lose even one more artist, journalist or intellectual to such a senseless and heinous crime. For our own sake and for future generations, we need to become a much more tolerant society.