Renowned ghazal singer Jamal Akbar dies at 72

One of Mehdi Hassan's earliest disciples died after suffering a heart attack in Karachi Web Desk July 23, 2026 Less than a minute read Renowned ghazal singer Jamal Akbar. Photo: Express Renowned ghazal singer Jamal Akbar passed away on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack, his close friend Rais Qadri said. He was 72. According to Qadri, Akbar was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre's Cardiac Centre after suffering a heart attack, where he died. He is survived by his widow and five daughters. Qadri said Akbar had undergone bypass surgery in London two years ago. His family has been living in London for several years, while the singer continued to travel regularly to Pakistan. He said funeral prayers and burial would take place after Akbar's wife and daughters arrive in Karachi from London. Akbar was one of the earliest disciples of ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan and remained associated with Pakistan's music industry for more than five decades. He had also appeared in director Hasan Tariq's film Maazi Haal Mustaqbil.