Abrar Ul Haq is a remarkably talented and popular Pakistani singer who rose to overnight fame through his song Billo. The song broke all records of popularity. Not only that, but the singer continued producing hit songs throughout his career. Songs like Cycle, Kurian Lahore Dian, Jutt, Nach Punjaban, and Sanu Tere Nal Pyar Ho Gaya earned him immense fame in Pakistan and India. Abrar Ul Haq’s songs have also been among the most frequently copied in Bollywood.

Recently, Abrar Ul Haq appeared on a Geo podcast hosted by Mubashar Hashmi. During the podcast, he slammed Bollywood for the blatant theft of his song Nach Punjaban.

Abrar Ul Haq said, “Look, I didn’t sell the song to them. They just assumed they had the rights to it. When we questioned them, they gave a very interesting reply. They said, ‘Ask your friend Haroon about it, as we got it from him.’ I said, ‘But I didn’t give this song to Haroon; this is my property.’ They replied again, ‘Just ask Haroon.’ They created fake documents and even forged my signatures because litigation is very expensive over there. And it’s not just me—they have done the same thing to many other artists. They are very smart when it comes to manipulation. They know that if international artists work from India, they will have to spend a lot of money. Haroon didn’t do anything wrong. He actually told me a different story. He said, ‘A Bollywood representative told me that another company was releasing Abrar Ul Haq’s song incorrectly, so they asked me to write that we needed to take the song back from that company. So I wrote and gave it to them. But that doesn’t give them the right to sell it. It is astonishing. They sold the entire film by building it around that song. It’s an injustice. I sued them, and the case is currently ongoing. It’s a fraudulent company, Moviebox. I think they are changing their name or may have already changed it. It is an open-and-shut case. Our straightforward question is: if I gave you anything through a written agreement, then please show it. In that case, the rights would be yours. Or show us the person who sold it to you. They have failed to provide any evidence. So the case is quite simple. It’s just a matter of pursuing it, although we sometimes become a bit lazy about it.”

A surge of digital creativity has followed the release of Ali Zafar’s album ‘Roshni,’ as a wave of content creators join an online video contest inspired by its tracks.

Launched weeks after the album’s debut, the competition called for submissions of visual art based on songs from the project, offering cash prizes of Rs250,000, Rs75,000, and Rs50,000. In response, social media feeds have been flooded with entries, a significant number showcasing AI-generated imagery and experimental narratives that capture varied personal interpretations of the album’s themes.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Zafar said the project was intended to inspire positivity and artistic expression. “The idea behind ‘Roshni’ was to spread light, and seeing it spark such incredible creativity among fans truly leaves me in awe,” he said.

In response to the growing number of submissions, organisers introduced an additional category the ‘Public Choice Award’ allowing audiences to vote for their favourite entry. There is also increasing anticipation around a possible awards ceremony hosted by Lightingale Records.

The Lightingale Records platform is aimed at supporting emerging talent. The event is expected to bring finalists together, where Zafar may personally present the awards.

Ali Zafar remains one of Pakistan’s most recognizable crossover stars. He built early fame through music before successfully entering films. In Bollywood, he appeared in projects such as ‘Tere Bin Laden’, ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’, ‘London Paris New York’, ‘Chashme Baddoor’, and ‘Dear Zindagi’. In Pakistan, his comeback film ‘Teefa in Trouble’ became a commercial success and helped revive local box office excitement.

Ali Zafar’s latest initiative highlights the evolving relationship between music and digital creativity, with ‘Roshni’ acting as a catalyst for cross-border artistic collaboration.

Read more: Ali Zafar says Shah Rukh Khan first wanted him to sing “Dard-e-Disco”

Singer Hasan Raheem is finally releasing a long-awaited collaboration with Indo-Canadian artist The PropheC. Their new track, “Ek Nishani,” is set to drop this Friday.

Raheem recently teased the release on social media, giving fans a first glimpse of the music video.

The trailer opens with a woman dragging a coffin across the desert, creating a dark and emotional mood. Raheem and The PropheC are then seen standing in the barren landscape, while later shots show The PropheC sitting alone on a chair inside a dimly lit room.

A short snippet of the song also plays in the teaser.

Raheem recently released his song Bewajah and has remained one of Pakistan’s most loved young voices.

Known for his smooth vocals and modern sound, he has built a strong fan following over the years.

The PropheC, on the other hand, is known for his soulful Punjabi tracks and polished production style.

With both singers bringing different sounds to the table, fans are expecting Ek Nishani to be one of the standout releases of the week.

Read more: Hasan Raheem highlights Gilgit’s culture in new single ‘Bewajah’