Nation deprived of qawwali maestro

How tragic it is that acclaimed Pakistani singer in the busy port city of Karachi was killed by motorcycle-borne gunmen. He was killed two days after masked men kidnapped the son of Chief Justice of Sindh High Court.

There is no doubt about the fact that Amjad Sabri was one of South Asia’s most popular singers of the ‘qawwali’, Sufi devotional music that dates back more than 700 years. That Amjad’s funeral attracted hundreds of thousands of people is a fact. No doubt, the entire city of teeming millions on Thursday swarmed Liaquatabad, Amjad’s neighbourhood where he was born and killed 45 years later. He would always be remembered for his dexterity in qawwali.

Police and Rangers are required to arrest the assassins of Amjad as early as possible. They must be awarded exemplary punishments for depriving the country of a qawwali maestro.

KARACHI ZOHAIB AHMED