LAHORE: Renowned Seraiki folk singer Shifaullah Khan Rokhri passed away after suffering a heart attack in Islamabad on Saturday.

He belonged to Rokhri, a village 13km from Mianwali, and he used his village as a part of his name.

Born in the last 1960s, Shifaullah started singing in the 1982/83 after inheriting the passion for singing from his father who was a police official. Shifaullah himself was policeman.

His first audio cassette, recorded by Rehmat Gramohphone House of Faisalabad, appeared in 1985/86. He remained away from singing for at least 10 years after that. He reappeared on the music scene with another audio cassette in 1998/99 and it got hit instantly. It had songs like Ajj Kala Jorra Pa and Dhola Phaira Pa, Banh Meri Butti. His famous songs included Mein Sutti Paee Nu Jagaya Mahi and Sohnian Akhian Kajlay Bharyaan is also among his many hit songs.

His son, Zeeshan Rokhri, also sings.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were held at 9pm at Mianwali stadium.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2020