LAHORE: Noted naat khwaan Mehboob Ahmed Hamdani passed away here on Wednesday. He was 72.

Mr Hamdani was suffering from cancer and fighting the deadly disease for the last many months. He had also suffered a brain haemorrhage and died at Ittefaq Hospital on Wednesday. He is survived by two daughters and two sons.

Mr Mehboob’s younger brother, Marghoob Hamdani, who is also a known naat khwaan, told Dawn that they both started their careers in the ‘60s with the Pakistan Television. “Our father was also a naat khwaan and always encouraged us to take this up. It was his encouragement that my elder brother and I devoted ourselves to naat recitation.”

Marghoob said his elder brother had received the Pride of Performance award in 2000 and recited naats not only in Pakistan, but also in the Middle East and on other private TV channels. He said his brother also ran a travel agency and tried to facilitate pilgrims in Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar expressed grief over the demise of Mehboob Hamdani, calling it a big loss.

His funeral was held on Wednesday at Jamia Mosque, Ayubia Market in Muslim Town that was attended by religious and other personalities.

Mehboob’s qul will be held on Thursday (today) between Zuhr to Maghrib prayers at Ayubia Market, Muslim Town.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2020