Amjad Sabri

Amjad Sabri was a Pakistani qawwal, naat khawan and a proponent of the Sufi Muslim tradition. He was the son of Ghulam Farid Sabri and the nephew of Maqbool Ahmed Sabri of the Sabri Brothers, one of the most prominent qawwali groups in South Asia. He started learning qawwali music from his father at the age of nine and joined him on stage in 1982. He inherited the art of reciting poems written by his father and uncle, as well as composing his own. He was known for his melodious voice, charismatic personality and crowd-pleasing style. He performed in various countries, including India, America and Europe, where he was regarded as a "rock star" of qawwali. He also sang naats, or praises of the Prophet Muhammad, and appeared on several television shows. He was awarded the Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in 2015. He was assassinated by gunmen on motorcycles in Karachi on 22 June 2016, allegedly for blasphemy. His death sparked an outpouring of grief and condemnation from his fans, fellow artists and political leaders. He was buried in Paposh Nagar Graveyard with a state funeral. He is remembered as a legend of Pakistan qawwali and a master of the Sufi tradition.