PM strongly condemns Amjad Sabri's killing in terrorist attack

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Karachi in which famous Qawwal Amjad Sabri lost his life.

The prime minister prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss, said PM Office in a statement.

The prime minister directed the concerned to find the culprits behind this attack and bring them to justice.

He paid tribute to the services of late Amjad Sabri for the promotion of Qawwali in the country and said he would be immensely missed in the times ahead.

Sabri's killer to be arrested soon, NA told

Meanwhile, the issue of the renowned singer’s murder was raised in the National Assembly as well.

State Minister for Interior Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman condemned the murder and assured the National Assembly that Sabri's killer would be arrested soon.

Responding to a point of order raised by MQM's Dr Farooq Sattar, the state minister said it was the second incident that occurred in Karachi during last three days.

He said the Ministry of Interior had taken notice of Sabri's murder and directed security forces to probe the matter and present a report in this regard.

Some elements wanted to disturb the peace in Karachi, he added.

Earlier, Dr Farooq Sattar strongly condemned the brutal act and said the government and security forces should arrest the killers immediately.

He said an operation had started two years ago with the mandate of all political parties to restore peace in Karachi but now some elements wanted to disturb the peace.

Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat ul Ebad also condemned the killing of the renowned Qawwali singer.

In a statement here, he termed this as a conspiracy to mar the law and order situation in the city.

Ebad directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing. He said that the killers should be brought to justice in any circumstance.

Sabri was gunned by unknown gunmen, who shot at the windscreen of his white Honda Civic car as it drove off a bridge in the congested Liaquatabad area. A relative travelling with him was also injured. According to police officials, Sabri was shot multiple times and succumbed to his wounds on his way to the hospital.

Amjad Sabri, 45, was one of South Asia's most popular singers of the 'qawwali', Sufi devotional music that dates back more than 700 years.

Amjad Sabri was the son of renowned qawwal of the 1960’s, Ghulam Farid Sabri, and 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). Some of their most memorable and famous qawwalis include Bhar Do Jholi Meri, Tajdar-i-Haram and Mera Koi Nahin Hai Teray Siwa.

Violence is common in Karachi despite a sharp decline in murders since the Pakistani Army launched a crackdown two years ago against suspected militants and violent criminals.

But a recent rise in targeted killings has once again raised questions marks on the effectiveness of the operation.

Sabri's killing comes days after a lawyer, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was abducted outside a city supermarket in Karachi.

The motive for the kidnapping was not immediately clear, authorities said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing.