PAKISTAN’S legendary classical singer Mehdi Hassan, who captivated millions of music fans across south Asia, died on Wednesday (June 13) after a long illness, his family said. He was 84.
Hassan, known as Shahenshah-e-Ghazal, or the king of classical singing among Urdu speakers across the world, died in a private hospital in Karachi.
His son Asif told reporters outside the hospital that his father had been suffering from multiple lung, chest and urinary tract conditions.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his condolences, calling Hassan "an icon who mesmerised music lovers" in Pakistan and the subcontinent for decades.
Lata Mangeshkar told Pakistan's private TV channel Express News that his death was a "big loss".
Hassan also won awards and accolades in India and Nepal, as well as Pakistan.
He was born in India and migrated to Pakistan after Partition.
