And it’s been a year to one of the most shocking incidents in the history of Pakistan, the sad and sudden death of singer turned Islamic preacher Junaid Jamshed.
Junaid Jamshed began his singing career in 1980’s as the lead singer of the famous band, Vital Signs. He was not only a singer but a trendsetter, a spiritual inspiration, the centre of much media attention and never far from controversy.
It didn’t take much time for the band and Junaid to make a mark and gained nationwide prominence, along with international recognition as group ‘Vital Signs’ vocalist in 1987 with the album, Vital Signs 1.
It was this album that included the evergreen singles ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’, and ‘Tum Mil Gaye’. The famous ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ became the second national anthem and is still adorned today by the people not only in Pakistan it abroad.
It was in 2004 that Junaid Jamshed left the music industry after a spiritual awakening, choosing to devote his life to religious activities.
He focused on his religious activities for Islam and started reciting Nasheed’s on TV and releasing them on CD’s. Junaid then came about his own clothing boutique with the name “Jay Dot”, which has several outlets in Pakistan and across the globe.
Junaid was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2007. He has sung a number of Naats, Hamds and travelled in many parts of the world for the sake of spreading the message of Islam.
In November 2014, Jamshed was accused of blasphemy and in December 2014, in a video message, he apologized for offending people and making mistakes.
Junaid Jamshed and his second wife died on 7 December 2016 when PIA Flight 661 crashed in Havelian. The flight was en route to Islamabad from Chitral. He was in Chitral for a Tablighi Jamaat mission and was returning to Islamabad.
Nonetheless, a persona with grace and purity, Junaid Jamshed will always be missed however marking a permanent place in the hearts of all Pakistanis across the world.
