PESHAWAR: Pashto ghazal maestro Khayal Mohammad is gradually recovering as he had suffered a light hemiplegia stroke two weeks ago due to high blood pressure, family sources told Dawn.

He was immediately taken to CMH, Peshawar, where he was admitted for a week for the treatment of stroke while a doctor in Islamabad was consulted who advised Khayal Mohammad complete bed rest.

Rising star Wisal Khayal, younger son of the legendary Pashto singer, told Dawn: “I was in Thailand in connection with a musical concert when my family back home informed me about the ailment of my father. I cut short my visit and came back to Pakistan to attend to my father. His condition has improved as he can talk properly, however doctors have strictly prohibited him from talking to people, that’s why the media was not informed about his ailment.”

He appealed to the music lovers, relatives, friends and fans of Khayal Mohammad around the globe to pray for his early recovery.

“I appeal to the well-wishers and fans of my great father to pray for his early recovery from the illness. His condition has improved over the past few days. Doctors say it will take some time to get complete recovery. He has been restrained from talking and movement by the doctors,” Mr Wisal said.

Born in 1946 to Malikdinkhel Afridi tribe at Chora village, Khyber Agency, Khayal Mohammad had launched his singing career at the age of 13.

He learnt tabla and harmonium from his elder brother Saiful Malook, a noted singer of his time. Later, he switched over to singing and soon got widespread popularity when his maiden Pashto song ‘zama da khukaley zwanai bia nawey duwraan de’ (My ripe young age is once again in bloom) was aired on Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, in 1958.

Late music director Rafiq Shinwari groomed him to render light Pashto ghazal which shot him to fame. Recipient of numerous awards, Khayal Mohammad has 2,00 albums to his credit.