Amjad Sabri shot dead: Qawwali and Sabri Brothers

Famed Pakistani Qawwali singer Amjad Sabri was shot dead in Karachi today. Sabri was travelling with his associate in a car when he was shot thrice- twice in head and once on ear. He was attacked by unindentified gunmen. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. 

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 Karachi.(Read Also: 'Laut kar main naa jaaunga khali': Famous Pakistani Qawwali singer Amjad Sabri shot dead in Karachi)

Here are some of the important facts about Amjad Sabri:

1.Amjad Farid Sabri, the renowned Pakistani Qawwali singer was the son of Qawwal Ghulam Farid Sabri who himself was a famous Qawwali singer.

2.He was born on 23 December 1976.

3.They were the first exponents of Qawwali to the West.

4.Sabri started learning music at the age of nine, his music teacher was his own father.

5.Sabri’s charm was not constrained to his origin country only but was one of the most acclaimed qawwals in the subcontinent.

6.Sabri Brothers are a Sufi Qawwali party from Pakistan, closely connected to the Chishti Order. Sometimes, referred to as Roving Ambassadors for Pakistan.

7.It was late Haji Ghulam Farid Sabri, whose periodic repeat use of 'Allah' during songs has become a Sabri signature.

8.Sabri brothers first public performance was at the annual Urs festival of Hazrat Peer Mubarak Shah in Kalyana in 1946.

9.Several of his qawwalis have featured in films.