Musicians, evangelists shocked by JJ’s death

KARACHI: Iconic pop singer-turned-evangelist Junaid Jamshed and his wife had also boarded the PIA flight PK-661 after a 15-day sojourn in Chitral.

At the airport, he took pictures with the plane crew and other passengers and even shot a short video of the cockpit, which were shared on popular social media websites. Little did he know the flight he was boarding would never land at its destination.



“Junaid Jamshed had formed a Masturaat Jamaat [a preaching group of women and their spouses] from Tableeghi Markaz in Raiwind to travel to Chitral for 10 days,” Tariq Wani, a close associate of popular tableeghi preacher Maulana Tariq Jamil, told The Express Tribune.

“He was invited by [former cricketer] Saeed Anwar, who is still in Chitral for a 40-day preaching mission. While in Chitral, Junaid spent all of his time with Saeed and his Jamaat,” he said.

Junaid’s preaching group included three other couples, Wani said. All of them were killed in the crash.

Upon hearing reports of the crash, Junaid’s brother-in-law rushed to Abbottabad from Karachi. “I am in the Abbottabad hospital with relatives of all other crash victims. We are waiting for our turn to identify the mortal remains of our loved ones,” he told The Express Tribune.



News of Junaid’s death sent shock and grief across the country’s media industry. Tributes poured in on social media for the former lead singer of the country’s first major pop band, Vital Sings, whose popular ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ became an unofficial national anthem.

“I am in tears,” said singer Abrarul Haque. “We have not only lost a great musician but I personally have lost a very dear friend. Needless to say his loss is irreplaceable but only few can manage to get acceptance in front of the audience and Allah,” he added. “It’s tragic. I don’t want to talk about it right now,” said guitarist Asad Ahmed. “I’m too dazed to comment. Give me time.”

Guitarist Amir Zaki was similarly in shock. “I don’t know what to say. This is really sad. He was a friend of mine and we had a lot of memories together.”

“I’m still reeling from the news,” said singer Mohin Raza Khan, better known by his stage name ‘Bunny’. “People like Junaid laid the foundation of our music industry. I’m personally affected by the loss.”

Musician Emu of the band Fuzon said “I have muted all TV channels. I am getting dazed just by looking at his pictures being aired like fragments of a memory.”

“He was more than just a musician, he was an inspiration and so much more but right now I can’t express my feelings. I am in a state of shock,” Emu added.



Playback singer Shabnam Majeed remembered Junaid as ‘a legend in his own right’. “No one subscribing to any school of thought can take that away from him. No one had an audience like his. May God give us the strength to follow in his footsteps.”

Jamshed was embroiled in a blasphemy case in late 2014 after a video emerged in which he allegedly made inappropriate comments. However, Jamshed publicly apologised for his remarks and sought forgiveness, and the case did not proceed further.

The 52-year-old had kept a low profile ever since, and was last pictured with his friends in Chitral on December 4.

A good man lost today rest in peace my brother until we meet again #Junaidjamshed

— ali azmat (@RealAliAzmat) December 7, 2016

Dear Junaid I shall cherish all our memories together...prayers for ur final journey...till we neet again... #JunaidJamshed #heartbroken pic.twitter.com/gkW1mHKBN1

— Fakhr-e-Alam S.I & S.E (@falamb3) December 7, 2016

My Heart is full of Sadness,I lost a very dear Friend #JunaidJamshed today.We lost Great Human Being, True Ambassador of Islam #RIP Brother.

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) December 7, 2016

a certain idea of pakistan - of youthful exuberance, in golden light, amongst green hills - just died tonight. a certain era just ended.

— Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal) December 7, 2016

The voice of my youth, the voice of my generation....#JunaidJamshed you will be sorely missed. Prayers for all the departed on #pk661

— Huma Amir Shah (@humaamirshah) December 7, 2016

https://twitter.com/AnwarMaqsood21/status/806493432705417220

My heart goes out to Pakistan who is mourning the death of an icon #Junaidjamshed and 47 souls on board #PK661

— Shaniera Akram (@iamShaniera) December 7, 2016

#PK661 Deeply saddened... Prayers for all... @JunaidJamshedPK the fondest memory of childhood. Sad to lose you...

— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) December 7, 2016

Just got off a PIA flight and heard about #PK661 praying for the safe recovery of everyone 🙏🏽

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) December 7, 2016

My heart goes out to the families whose loved ones were lost. May Allah make it easy. Let's say Fatiha for all & sp Junaid Jamshed bhai RIP

— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) December 7, 2016

Junaid Jamshed's journey was so quintessentially Pakistani. Conflicted, passionate, devoted, ubersmart, and so, so talented. Tragic loss.

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) December 7, 2016

Heart is bleeding for the lives lost, condolences to the family. We lose another icon.. this is just so so sad. #PK661 #JunaidJamshed

— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) December 7, 2016

All loss of life is traggic. #JunaidJamshed hits close to heart. He was my junior twice-over; in #Islamabad during college, then at #UET. pic.twitter.com/XXQ6LwOssB

— Adil Najam  (@AdilNajam) December 7, 2016

Such tragic news about #PK661. As for #JunaidJamshed-"Dil Dil Pakistan" will always be a memorable anthem. RIP to all those that died.

— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) December 7, 2016

Saddened beyond words! Rest in peace #JunaidJamshed & all the people who were on board! Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun!

— URWA TUL WUSQUA HOCANE (@VJURWA) December 7, 2016

Extremely sad for Pakistan this plane crash has broken many hearts rip Junaid Jamshed #pk661

— Ahmed (@AhmedDamn) December 7, 2016

My heart literally cries right now, I hope and pray today doesn't mark a dark day in the history of Pakistan. #PK661

— Saniya (@Saniyazing) December 7, 2016

Here is the last tweet by Junaid Jamshed :( May Allah bless the souls of all who have departed :( #SadDay #Pk661 #PIA pic.twitter.com/kBBVLhpt5z

— Arsalan Naseer (@ArslanNaseerCBA) December 7, 2016

Amjad Sabri, Edhi
and Now #JunaidJamshed 💔
May Allah Give them Best Place In Jannah.Ameen
Pray for other passengers too#PlanCrash #PK661

— Joweria (@Joweria_Malik) December 7, 2016

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2016.