Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan laid to rest

Karachi: Legendary ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan was laid to rest yesterday in a tearful farewell attended by hundreds of mournful fans at the Shah Muhammad Shah graveyard here.

The India-born maestro died on Wednesday following multiple organ failure at the age of 84.

His funeral was held after Friday prayers at Noorani Mosque, Al-Noor Society. His last rites were attended by family members, friends, singers, politicians, social workers, actors as well as many of his fans.

Hassan was born in Luna village in Rajasthan in 1927. His father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan were renowned classical musicians. His family migrated to Pakistan during partition.

Hassan is survived by nine sons and five daughters.

The entire funeral rites were organised and supervised by the volunteers of the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation, the welfare wing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The volunteers only allowed the close relatives of the late singer near his graveyard. “We had taken these measures to prevent any disruption or delay in the funeral rites,” one volunteer said.

Speaking to the media after the burial, filmstar Nadeem said, “It was an honour for me that I picturised many songs sung by Mehdi sahib. As a matter of fact, it was him who drove my career in the forward direction. He might be gone but his songs and ghazals will remain in our hearts forever.”

Lyricist and scriptwriter Anwer Maqsood said, “After Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Sadequain and Noor Jehan, Mehdi sahib was one person who got the fame he deserved during his lifetime. Not many people can maintain the fame they acquire, but he did, till his last breath.”

PTI