Amjad Sabri
Amjad Sabri | |
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Born | [1] | 23 December 1976
Died | 22 June 2016 (16 Ramadan) Liaquatabad Town, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
Cause of death | Targeted killing |
Resting place | Paposh Nagar, Karachi, Pakistan |
Occupation(s) | Chorus singer (until 1996), Lead Qawwali Singer (1996 - 2016) |
Years active | 1982 - 2016 |
Children | 5 |
Parent | Ghulam Farid Sabri (father) Asghari Begum (mother) |
Relatives | Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (uncle) Mehmood Ghaznavi Sabri (Uncle) Kamal Ahmed Sabri (Uncle) Azmat Farid Sabri (Brother) Sarwat Farid Sabri (Brother) Talha Farid Sabri (Brother) |
Musical career | |
Genres | Sufi |
Instruments |
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Amjad Farid (Fareed) Sabri (23 December 1976 – 22 June 2016) was a Pakistani qawwal, naat khawan and a proponent of the Sufi Muslim tradition. Son of Ghulam Farid Sabri and nephew of Maqbool Ahmed Sabri of the Sabri Brothers, he emerged as one of South Asia's most prominent qawwali singers, often reciting poems written by his father and uncle.[2] He was shot dead in Karachi in a targeted killing.[3] Police and paramilitary arrested his alleged killers who have confessed to the crime.[4]
Career
Born in Karachi, Sindh on 23 December 1970, Amjad began learning qawwali music from his father at age nine and joined his father on stage to perform in 1982 at age 12.[5] His father trained him in Raag Bhairon, which is practiced in early morning. For this training Sabri had to get out of bed in the mid night, then after performing tahajjud (a midnight prayer) practised the baja.[6] Sabri presented the work of his family and travelled widely to India, America and Europe where he was known as the "rock star" of qawwali.[7] From then on he remained one of the most acclaimed qawwali singers on the Indian subcontinent and performed around the world.
Amjad used to recite chorus and clap in his father's and uncle's band Sabri Brothers. He also appeared alongside his father Ghulam Farid Sabri and uncle Maqbool Ahmed Sabri at the age of 6 years along with Sabri Brothers group in 1982 Pakistani film Saharay in which his father and uncle recited their famous golden hit Tajdar-e-Haram. Amjad also recited Allama Muhammad Iqbal's poem Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua in the same film. After his father's death he worked as a supporting vocalist and also used to play bongo drums. Later, in 1996 he started his own group with his brothers and friends as members. His first album was Balaghal Ola Be Kamalehi which was released by Oriental star agencies in 1997 which featured his father's and uncle's golden hit Sar E La Makan Se Talab Huwi as the main item. Mostly, he used to recite poetry sung by his father and uncle, then eventually began to include some of his own compositions. Some of his hit Qawwalis included Ali Ke Sath Hai Zehra Ki Shaadi and Na Poochiye Ke Kya Hussain Hai. His most popular song is a Naat Karam Maangta Hoon. His other works include Main Nazar Karoon Jaan E Jigar, Allah Allah, Dhoom Macha Do, Kaab Ki Raunaq, Kaash Yeh Dua Meri, Ali Mera Dil, Phir Dikha De Haram, Tuloo E Saher Hai Shaam-E-Qalandar and his last Naat Aye Sabz Gumbad Wale.
Sabri's last musical project was with Coke Studio. He performed an outstanding qawwali, "Aaj Rang Hai" with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in Episode 7 of Season 9. Sabri's performance on the platform came out to be his first and last one.[8]
Death
On 22 June 2016, after finishing a morning TV show where his last naat included the words "When I shudder in my dark tomb, dear Prophet, look after me",[9] two motorcyclists opened fire on Sabri's car in Liaquatabad Town, Karachi, critically injuring Sabri, an associate and his driver. Sabri was shot twice in the head and once on the ear.[10][11][12] All of the passengers were then shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where Sabri died shortly after.[13] His assassination occurred near an underpass named after his father.[9][14]
Tens of thousands of people attended Sabri's funeral in Karachi.[15]
Sabri's murder met with condemnation from many public figures in Pakistan and India, and several protests were organised against the killing.[16][17][18][19] Several songs, music videos were made, and articles were published, to pay a tribute to Sabri. In addition, Sabri was paid tribute in several shows and award ceremonies in Pakistan. Since Sabri's death, several concerts have been held around the world in his tribute. In 2016, a Qawal group held a concert in the United States in a tribute to Sabri, which was attended by thousands of people.[20]
Perpetrators
Following Sabri's assassination, one of the workers of political party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was arrested by security forces. The arrested worker, Shahzad Mullah, admitted that he was responsible for the murder of Amjad Sabri. Shahzad Mullah stated that a six member team was formed, comprising two MQM workers from Liaquatabad, to attack Amjad Sabri. He disclosed that Amjad Sabri was not paying extortion to the party, which was the reason for his murder.[21][22]
According to local Pakistani media like Dawn News, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also claimed responsibility for killing Amjad Sabri. The responsibility was claimed by the group's spokesman, Qari Saifullah Mehsud.[23] Qari Saifullah Mehsud was later shot dead by an unknown gunman in Khost province of Afghanistan on 29 December 2019.[24][25] Mehsud was a key TTP commander and was among the terrorists most wanted by Pakistan for his involvement in several terror attacks in the country. He was previously arrested by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2016 but was later released after he spent 14 weeks in jail in Afghanistan.[25]
Legacy
- Amjad Sabri was awarded Pride of Performance by Government of Pakistan.[citation needed]
- In 2018, Sabri was posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz – Pakistan's third highest civilian honour – by President Mamnoon Hussain.[26]
- Amjad Sabri's voice featured in the track "Church" on Coldplay's 2019 album Everyday Life.
References
- ^ "Exclusive biography of #AmjadFaridSabri and on his life". FilmiBeat.
- ^ Ali, Dawn.com | Imtiaz (22 June 2016). "Famed qawwal Amjad Sabri gunned down in Karachi". Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "They killed him – The Express Tribune". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Asim Capri, Ishaq Bobby confess to Amjad Sabri's killing - Pakistan - Dunya News". dunyanews.tv.
- ^ "Amjad Sabri". Telegraph.
- ^ Web Desk (22 June 2016). "Amjad Sabri: a look back at the life of the legendary qawwal". The News. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Amjad Sabri, Sufi singer – obituary". The Telegraph. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ Staff, Images (6 August 2016). "Amjad Sabri, Rahat Fateh, Abida Parveen kick-start Coke Studio 9 with an emotional tribute". Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Obituary: Amjad Sabri, Pakistan's favourite qawwali singer". The Economist. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ Khan, Faraz (3 May 2015). "Amjad Sabri shot dead in Karachi – The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Renowned Pakistani singer Qawwal Amjad Sabri shot dead in Karachi". Firstpost. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Renowned qawwali singer Amjad Sabri killed in Karachi gun attack: hospital sources". Dunya News. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Ali Zain (24 June 2016). "CCTV footage shows Amjad Sabri's killers escaping easily on a motorcycle, without interference". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ Graham-Harrison, Emma (23 June 2016). "Amjad Sabri: Pakistani Sufi singer shot dead in Karachi" – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Amjad Sabri laid to rest amid sobs, tears". Samaa TV.
- ^ Desk, Entertainment (3 May 2015). "Nation mourns Amjad Sabri's death – The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Web Desk (23 June 2016). "Malala Yousafzai sends condolence message over Sabri's death". Geo TV. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ Staff Reporter (23 June 2016). "NCJP offers condolence on assassination of Qawal Amjad Sabri". Lahore World. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ Web Desk (23 June 2016). "Civil society stages protest against Amjad Sabri's murder". Dunya News. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ Web Desk (23 June 2016). "MWM Hold Protest at Islamabad Press Club Against Amjad Sabri Assassination". Shiite News. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "MQM worker confesses to killing Amjad Sabri over non-payment of extortion money". Daily Pakistan. 30 August 2016.
- ^ "Amjad Sabri killed for not paying extortion money". Samaa Tv. 30 August 2016.
- ^ Gaffey, Conor (23 June 2016). "PAKISTAN'S AMJAD SABRI, FAMOUS SUFI SINGER, GUNNED DOWN IN SUSPECTED TALIBAN ATTACK". News Week.
- ^ "TTP leader Saifullah Mehsud killed in Afghanistan". Pakistan Today. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ a b Uddin, Islam (29 December 2019). "Pakistani Taliban's key leader killed in Afghanistan". Anadolu Agency.
- ^ "President Mamnoon confers civil awards on Yaum-i-Pakistan". Dawn. 23 March 2018.
External links
- Amjad Sabri at IMDb
- Pakistani terrorism victims
- 1970 births
- 2016 deaths
- Harmonium players
- Pakistani qawwali singers
- Crime in Karachi
- People killed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
- Targeted killings in Pakistan
- People murdered in Karachi
- Pakistani Sufis
- Murdered Pakistani musicians
- Deaths by firearm in Pakistan
- Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
- Muhajir people