KARACHI – Infections have gripped legendary Pakistani Ghazal singer and a former playback singer for Lollywood, Mehdi Hasan (84), as he was taken to hospital for treatment for two times during the last two weeks.
Arif Mehdi son of Mehdi Hasan told The Nation on Monday that Mehdi Hasan was not well, as he was hospitalised twice during the last couple of weeks.
He said, “Three days back he was taken to home from Aga Khan Hospital, while last time he was taken to the emergency of Aga Khan Hospital on January 30th, where doctors declared that he was suffering from urine and chest infections.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Mehdi Hassan has fourteen children, nine of whom are boys and five of whom are girls, while Arif Mehdi is one of them. Mehdi Hassan stepped down from playback singing due to his severe illness in the late 80s. Later his illness compelled him to be departed completely from music. He is spending his life in Karachi.
Arif Mehdi said that his father is not allowed by his physicians to talk with the media, as he is not in position to talk freely. Mehdi Hassan claims to be the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant clan of musicians.
Mehdi Hassan had his musical grooming from his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were both traditional Dhrupad singers.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions: the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz granted to him by Gen Ayub Khan; the Pride of Performance bestowed on him by Gen Ziaul Haq; and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz conferred by Gen Pervez Musharraf.
Besides the Nigar Film and Graduate Awards from Pakistan, he was presented the Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India, in 1979, whereas the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983.
