Music

Zoheb Opens Up About Nazia Hassan

Written by Saadia Qamar

Pakistan’s iconic pop princess Nazia Hassan lost the battle against lung cancer at 35.

Fans remember Nazia and her brother, Zoheb Hassan, as the sensations that transformed pop culture in the country and made waves at home and abroad, especially across the border.

Her death may be a tragic loss for the music industry, but it is no doubt that her family bears the agonizing pain of living their lives without her.

We recently had the chance to talk to Zoheb while he was visiting Karachi. In a brief interview and amidst flowing tears, Zoheb talked about losing his sister and living life without her.

Reflecting upon Nazia’s philosophy on life, Zoheb said that she was a humanitarian. “I always told her that she should not be a singer,” he said, adding that he had asked her why she was a star. “She had no airs about herself. But she believed she could reach the hearts of millions through music and singing, and could do good humanitarian work.”

He explains how with his pain, his respect for his sister grew after her death. “Her charitable work, most of which I became aware of later, showed me how deeply humane she was,” he said, amazed by her work. But then he grew more serious. As he spoke of her fast-paced approach to life, he shook his head sadly, “I would tell her I can’t keep pace with you. But she never told me she was going to die so soon,” he said. “I will never forgive her for this.”

Looking troubled, Zoheb explained how he was with her in the last year and a half of her life; how we watched her wilt away. Although the doctors informed the family that Nazia would not survive, she was optimistic. “She wanted to live for her son,” Zoheb said. “She wanted to do another album with me!”

He said that she kept the family in the dark about her marriage, and never shared what she had to endure till she was finally divorced days before her death. But Zoheb said it was worse that she had deluded them into believing that she would survive. “She left us in no-man’s land,” he said.

Zoheb also said that being a music composer, his sister’s input was invaluable as it was always constructive criticism from a professional partner. “That is not there anymore,” says Zoheb, indicating that making music without Nazia is not easy.

But he agrees that life moves on. “We are going on — with a certain part of our heart missing,” he exclaimed. He said that natural deaths allow loved ones to accept the loss with time but for him “the wound will always be there”.

“She died an unhappy person and she died in pain,” Zoheb said with shining eyes. “This was a devastating reality for us to know. To see your loved one die in pain is the most frightening experience,” he said, adding that watching a loved one’s painful demise “kills the family from within”. At the end (and on a lighter note), Zoheb spoke with pride about Nazia’s voice — the gift she is remembered for. Of all her songs, he loves “Dil Ke Lagi” but his personal favorite is “Koi Nahi”.

“I love that track,” Zoheb says, the respect clear in his voice. “She sang it like nobody can ever.”

Related Topics:Nazia Hassan Zoheb Hassan

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Music

Annie Khalid’s Hit ‘Mahiya’ Remixed by Indian Producer

Indian music producer Yashraj Mukhate went viral by remixing Annie Khalid’s iconic 2006 pop hit Mahiya, blending it with a humorous clip of a South Asian man expressing his dislike for relatives.

Known for turning viral dialogues into catchy tunes, Mukhate paired the man’s blunt response with playful lyrics like: “Meri bua ki bhabi ke beti ki shaadi mein kyun jaon, mahiya, ke hoon mein pareshaan, mahiya.” The video quickly gained over 12 million views on Instagram.

Pakistani celebrities including Mawra Hocane and Zoya Nasir praised the remix, and Annie Khalid herself responded with laughter and enthusiasm. Mukhate, calling her “The OG,” celebrated the interaction. Khalid’s Mahiya was a breakthrough hit that defined mid-2000s Pakistani pop and opened doors for women in the industry.

Who is Annie Khalid

Annie Khalid was born to a Kashmiri father and a Yemeni mother in Lahore on 27 March 1987. When she was just six months old, her family moved from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, first settling in East London and later relocating to Essex.

Annie Khalid launched her music career with the single “Mahiya,” which became a massive hit in Pakistan after its 2005 release. Indian filmmakers later featured the song in the film Awarapan.

On 25 November 2010, she released her UK debut single “Be My Baby,” accompanied by a remix from British DJ Judge Jules. After meeting the English–Norwegian boy band A1 at a charity event, Khalid collaborated with them on the single “Just 3 Words” and joined their tour, performing across Norway and the UK. In 2011, the Pakistan Media Awards nominated her for Best Female Singer.

In September 2013, Khalid teamed up with Beenie Man to release the single “Boom Boom Danze.”

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Muhammad Ali Shehki Says Romance Is Key to Great Music

In an interview with Imran Ashraf, veteran musician Mohammed Ali Shehki revealed that romance—real or imagined—is central to his musical process, and urged other artists to embrace the same mindset.

He admitted to envisioning a muse while performing, saying, “An artist has to be in love all the time, whether it’s your wife, girlfriend, or someone from your imagination.”

Tapping into that romantic energy, Shehki performed his hit Pyar Kiya Mein Ne Dil Diya, then reflected on his rise to fame in the 1970s. “There was a lot of craze in that era. Now, with so many singers, no one knows who’s who. Back then, it was just a few of us—actually, just two,” he said, referencing himself and Alamgir.

Shehki recounted how makeup artist Lily Raza, who shared his Irani heritage, helped him break into the entertainment industry. Before his big break, he performed in hotels and eventually landed a spot on a show hosted by Tara Ghanshyam. When Ghanshyam fell ill, Shehki was asked to perform their duet solo.

“I thought I’d lost the opportunity,” he recalled. “But Ghazanfar Ali sahab told me, ‘You’ll sing this solo without any complaints.’ So I did, and the song became a superhit.”

Shehki, also known for acting in films like Dekh Tamasha and Choron Ka Badshah, credited that moment as the turning point in his career.

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Abrarul Haq Drops New Song Celebrating Victory Over India

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Singer Abrarul Haq joined the celebrations by releasing a special song dedicated to the victory.

Through powerful lyrics, the track tells how the Pakistani Armed Forces thwarted India’s so-called “Operation Sindoor.”

Abrar highlights the spiritual strength of a Muslim warrior, portraying inner faith as a battlefield force.

He also symbolically mentions “serving tea to the enemy,” a phrase tied to past military encounters.

Abrar shared the song on his official YouTube channel, though the full music video is yet to be released.

Fans praised the song as a morale booster, with one commenting, “Pak Forces deserve this kind of tribute after an amazing victory,” and another adding, “The song is beautiful, and Abrarul Haq sang it with full enthusiasm and zeal.”

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