ISLAMABAD, May 21: Singer Abrarul Haq is at the centre of a controversy over one of the songs from his new album as the Supreme Court on Monday observed that songs that hurt the sentiments of a section of people in a society like Pakistan should not be permissible.

On a suo motu notice, the Supreme Court had summoned the singer for an explanation over the song: “Ne Parveen tu bari namkeen; oper sey tu miskeen, andar sey tu bari shauqeen.” The song is part of his recently-launched album –- “Naara Sada Ishq Hai”.

It was a column published in an Urdu daily carrying a letter from a female student also named Parveen on the effect of the song on her life that compelled the apex court to exercise his suo motu jurisdiction.

The singer was criticised for using the word Parveen, a common name of females in Pakistan, in what the column had described, in a very bizarre manner.

Abrar later told Dawn that he had used the word “Parmeen” and not Parveen in the song but said he would do whatever the court would tell him to do.

Abrar had also been a subject of public debates in the past for his musical works like “Billo de ghar” and “nach Panjaban nach”.

It was again due to an intervention by the court that he had to rephrase the song nach Punjaban nach into “mach Majajan mach”.

In the letter, the girl had complained that the singer had used the name Parveen in a very derogatory way because of which she had to abandon her studies at a college in Lahore. “Whenever I would pass by the college canteen, boys would start singing the song and laugh at me,” the letter said.

Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas had also asked Advocate General of Punjab Chaudhry Aftab Iqbal to appear before the court on Monday.

When the case was taken up on Monday by a two-member bench, Advocate Dr Khalid Ranjha appeared on behalf of the singer but was asked by the court to submit a power of attorney to represent Abrar.

“Prime facie (it seems to be), this is a very serious matter. These things (songs) are not permissible in a society like Pakistan. It has hurt the sentiments of society,” ACJ observed and adjourned the matter for May 28.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, MMA lawmaker Farid Ahmed Paracha has also submitted an adjournment motion before the National Assembly seeking a debate on the song controversy.