WHOEVER tried to discredit Sohail Rana's work did not do full research on Rana, who composed the famous Islamic summit anthem, 'Hum Mustawafi Hain'.

Rana has also been my teacher ever since I was in college. I am one of the lucky ones who was part of the choir in 'Hum Mustawafi Hain', Islamic summit anthem, which was recorded with a very big orchestra and countless singers as a group in Lahore in 1974.

I distinctly remember all the stages the anthem went through, starting with Rana's sessions with Jamiluddin Aali, Mehdi Zaheer and his favourite musicians.

In fact, he had first suggested to the ministries of information and foreign affairs to either arrange Umme Kulsoom or Abdul Wahab from Egypt to render this anthem. Both ministries very promptly informed Rana that Kulsoom was bedridden and Wahab was on an international tour.

Hence both of them could not be made available at that time.

It was at this juncture that Rana suggested the name of Mahdi Zaheer to sing the Islamic summit anthem, 'Hum Mustawafi Hain'.

Sohail Rana is the pride of our nation and we should be cautious and careful casting aspersions on our national and international celebrities.

WASEEM BAIG
(singer) Los Angeles