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Amjad Sabri, one of Pakistan's finest Qawwals and known for his soul-stirring renditions of mystic poetry, was on Wednesday killed by unidentified gunmen who shot him in the head in a targeted attack here.
Sabri, 45, and an associate were travelling in a car in Karachi's Liquatabad 10 area when unidentified motorcycle- borne gunmen fired at their vehicle, critically injuring them.
The two were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed hospital, where Sabri succumbed to his injuries. His associate also died.
"Sabri was shot in the chest and head and he was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital immediately, where he succumbed to his injuries.
His associate was also killed in the targeted attack," a police official said.
Additional police surgeon Dr Rohina Hasan confirmed Sabri's death. He was shot thrice twice in the head and once on the ear.
Amjad Sabri was the son of renowned Qawwal Ghulam Farid Sabri whose family is famous in the subcontinent for their contribution to this sufi art and mystic poetry.
Sabri was one of Pakistan's finest qawwals, known for his soul-stirring renditions of mystic poetry.
Some of the most memorable and famous qawwalis of the Sabris were 'Bhar Do Jholi Meri', 'Tajdar-i-Haram' and 'Mera Koi Nahin Hai Teray Siwa'.
Sabri, who travelled widely to Europe and USA for his concerts, was known as the "rockstar" of Qawali due to his modern style of rendition.
His killing comes just two days after the son of the Sindh High Court Chief Justice was kidnapped and it raises serious concern about the security situation in Pakistan's biggest city. This week a doctor belonging to the minority Ahmadi community was also shot dead in his clinic by gunmen.
Opposition politicians have described Sabri's killing as a total failure of the provincial government to ensure proper law and order situation in Karachi which is the economic hub of the country.
The spokesman for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insasaf party, Naeem ul Haq, called for those involved in heinous crimes to be given exemplary capital punishment.
"No one is safe in Karachi. The so-called clean up operation since the last two years is a total failure."
A senior member of the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement, Waseem Akhtar, who is the nominee for the Mayor's post also condemned Sabri's killing and said the government should resign.
"Militants belonging to different banned outfits are openly roaming in parts of Karachi and there is no one to stop them," he said.
In 2014, the Islamabad Hight Court had issued a notice in a blasphemy case to two private TV channels for playing of a qawwali during a morning show. The show had mixed a mock wedding with a qawwali sung by Sabri related to religious figures, and was considered offensive.
An advocate had put the onus on Sabri and poet Aqeel Mohsin Naqvi for the blasphemy row while seeking to ban the Qawwali that caused the issue.
Myth: Suji (Semolina) Is A Nutritious Whole Grain(01 of08)
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That plate of sujigolgappas is not exactly a healthy diet snack. "Suji (semolina or rava) is the granular form of maida (flour). Its nutritional content is same as any other refined grain like polished rice or refined wheat flour," says Dev Khosla, co-founder of theweightmonitor.com, an Indian weight management website. Khosla goes on to explain that whole grain is composed of four major components - husk (inedible portion), outer tough bran (fibre rich), endosperm (starch rich part basically providing complex carbohydrates and energy) and germ (nutrient rich part, a good source of proteins, fat, vitamin E, B, iron, magnesium and chromium). During milling, the fibre-rich bran layer is removed and germ also gets ripped off, thereby, abandoning the grain of fibre and nutrition, leaving behind only the starch-rich component, the endosperm. The broken endosperm is called suji and its ground form is flour. (credit:Leisa Tyler via Getty Images)
Myth: Extra-Virgin Cooking Oil Cannot Be Used For Cooking(02 of08)
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Should it be used as a garnish for salads? Does it lose its nutrients after being heated? There are many questions that render cooking with extra-virgin olive oil a dubious topic in the Indian kitchen. "However, olive oil is one of the most heat stable oils," says Delhi-based nutritionist Ishi Khosla, founder of The Celiac Society For Delhi. "In fact, extra-virgin olive oil is more stable. Hence, it is a myth that it cannot be used for cooking." That said, she adds that heating any oil to high temperatures leads to formation of undesirable compounds and loss of nutrition. "Therefore, to derive the maximum benefits from any natural fat, it is better to minimise its heating," says Ishi. "Also, it is valuable to know that extra virgin olive oil is low in acid, resulting in a fruity flavour and aroma, so you need to use less to enjoy the flavour," says Dev. (credit:ZenShui/Michele Constantini via Getty Images)
Myth: Honey And Molasses Are Better Than Sugar(03 of08)
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Just when you thought you had found a cheat guide to sweeten your life. "While honey and molasses certainly are natural unrefined sweeteners, they still have a high glycemic index, just like white, refined sugar," reveals Dev. According to Ishi's research, honey contains more calories: 1 tablespoon honey provides nearly 65 calories, as compared to only 46 calories provided by the same amount of table sugar. (credit:AnthiaCumming via Getty Images)
Myth: Desi Ghee Is Harmful For Health(04 of08)
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The exaggerated fears of cholesterol (cholesterophobia) and saturated fat have virtually driven out the one of the most revered cooking ingredients in the Indian kitchen - pure desi ghee. A study published in the Indian Council Of Medical Research was conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi with 63 healthy physically active adult volunteers (52 men and 11 women). The group was provided ghee and mustard oil in diet for 8 weeks. Their serum total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol level increased while LDL cholesterol level did not show any change. "Desi ghee is 65% saturated and 32% MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids)," says Dev. "MUFA is a highly desirable form of dietary fat- the kind of fat found in olive oil, which helps in cholesterol reduction. It is perhaps even more desirable than PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) because it does not lower the good cholesterol, the HDL." Comparatively, desi ghee scores over oils like sunflower, safflower, corn, and cottonseed oils. (credit:Hugh Johnson via Getty Images)
Myth: Bananas And Apples Are Rich In Iron Because They Turn Brown(05 of08)
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According to Ishi, one of the greatest myths about apples and bananas are that they are good sources of iron. "Apples and bananas are an excellent source of fibre, not iron. This change in colour is an enzymatic reaction that has nothing to do with iron. The darkening results from the oxidation of phenolic compounds in fruits, in the presence of oxygen available from air and the supporting enzyme. Likewise potatoes and sweet potatoes also turn brown on exposure to air," she says. For iron-rich foods, turn to dry fruits such as raisins or dried apricots, recommends Dev. (credit:De Agostini Picture Library via Getty Images)
Myth: Avoid Eggs! They're High In Cholesterol(06 of08)
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"Although an egg contains nearly 215 mg cholesterol, and a single yolk can makeup for the entire day’s limit of 300 mg cholesterol daily, egg cholesterol seems to have little impact on blood cholesterol levels," finds Dev. According to a 2012 study published in National Center For Biotechnology Information, a number of recent clinical trials that looked at the effects of long-term egg consumption (as a vehicle for dietary cholesterol) reported no negative impact on various indices of cardiovascular health and disease. The same study also quoted the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2010 conclusion that consumption of dietary cholesterol in the amount of one egg a day is not harmful and does not result in negative changes in serum lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. (credit:Joan Vicent Canto Roig via Getty Images)
Myth: Not Eating Sugar Will Save You From Diabetes(07 of08)
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Staying away from the sweet stuff will kill a few calories, but won't necessarily eradicate diabetes. "Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, and is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors including high calorie diets, overweight and physical inactivity," says Dev. Ishi adds to this saying that excess calories from any source: fat, starch, protein or sugar will result in insulin resistance, weight gain and thereby predispose an individual to diabetes. Sugar certainly increases the risk for obesity, however, those who do not consume sugar are not necessarily protected. "It is not the sugar, which causes diabetes rather it is the inability of the body to effectively metabolise carbohydrates, which leads to diabetes," says Dev. (credit:YelenaYemchuk via Getty Images)
Myth: You Can't Go Nuts For Fear Of Cholesterol(08 of08)
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A standard Indian household snack for better health is a handful of of almonds, walnuts, peanuts mixed together with a peppering of kishmish (raisin). Why a handful? "Most likely, because most people here believe that overdosing on nuts leads to obesity and cholesterol problems," says Dev. According to a 2010 study published by Dr Emilio Ros, director of the Lipid Clinic, Endocrinology & Nutrition Service at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, interventional studies consistently show that nut intake has a cholesterol-lowering effect, even in the context of healthy diets, and there is emerging evidence of beneficial effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular reactivity. "The truth is that nuts are useful to lower cholesterol levels," adds Ishi. " Besides this, they are cardio-protective, help in weight reduction and prevention of several diseases." (credit:Svetl via Getty Images)
-- This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which
closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions
or concerns about this article, please contact
indiasupport@huffpost.com.