Abrar-ul-Haq

Abrar-ul-Haq (Punjabi: ابرار الحق) is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist and singer-songwriter.[1][2] His debut 1995 album Billo De Ghar sold over 40.3 million albums worldwide,[3] which made him a household name and granted him the title of "King of Pakistani Pop".[4] Abrar-ul-Haq is the Founder and Chairman of Sahara for Life Trust, a non-profit charitable organisation that provides health services to the people of Narowal and surrounding areas since 1998. He was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate for the seat of National Assembly from constituency NA-78 (Narowal-II) in the 2018 Pakistani general elections.[5] On 15 November 2019, he was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

Abrar-ul-Haq
ابرار الحق
Abrar-ul-Haq in Calgary (2014)
Born
Abrar-ul-Haq

(1969-07-21) 21 July 1969
Ghulam Muhammad Abad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Alma materSir Syed College,
Quaid-i-Azam University
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter,
  • philanthropist,
  • politician
Years active1995–present
Notable work
Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital Complex, Sahara Medical College
TitleFounder and Chairman of Sahara for Life Trust
Chairman of Pakistan Red Crescent Society
Political partyPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Spouse(s)
Hareem Abrar
​
(m. 2005)​
Children4
AwardsLux Style Awards
PTV Awards
HonoursTamgha-e-Imtiaz (2005)
Sitara-e-Eisaar (2006)
Websitesaharaforlife.org

Early life

Abrar-ul-Haq was born in Faisalabad, Pakistan with roots belonging to Narowal, Pakistan. He completed his Bachelor's degree from Sir Syed College in Rawalpindi. He then completed his Master's degree in Social science from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. After that, he started teaching geography at Aitchison College, which is one of the most respected institutes of Pakistan. But he soon realized that singing was his passion and started working on his first album, Billo De Ghar, which was released in 1995.[6]

Music career

Controversy

Abrar-ul-Haq's songs have been a subject of controversy in Pakistan on multiple occasions. After the release of the hit song "Billo De Ghar" in 1995, Urdu newspapers began quoting Lahori mullahs who claimed the song describing a man falling in love with a prostitute and wanting to marry her. Upon the formation of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N majority government after the 1997 election, the song was banned from state-owned TV and radio channels. [7] In the early 2000s, his song "Nach Punjaban" was met with opposition from those who thought the casual use of the word "Punjaban" was a demeaning way to address Punjabi women,, eventually resulting in Abrar-ul-Haq re-recording a version of the song using the word "Majajan" instead.[8] In 2007, the Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned the singer for an explanation of the song "Parveen" from the album Nara Sada Ishq Aye, alleging that it used the name Parveen in a derogatory manner that would hurt the sentiments of society.[9] In 2019, the song "Chamkeeli" was the subject of a claim in civil court in Lahore, with the courts requesting that the song be banned and removed from YouTube alleging that it was humiliating and insulting to both men and women.[10]

Discography

Albums
Year Album Label
1995 Billo De Ghar
1998 Majajani[3] Sound Master
1999 Bay Ja Cycle Tay
with hit song Kurrian Lahore Diyyan[1]		 Sound Master
2000 Mein Gaddi Aap Chalawan Ga Sound Master
2002 Assan Jana Mall-o Mall[11] DJ Gold
2004 Nachan Main Audhay Naal[3] TP Gold
2007 Nara Sada Ishq Aye[11] Fire Records
2013 Sab Rang Aap (PBUH) Se Moviebox Record Label
2016 Billo Returns Aithay Rakh ARY Musik

Studio releases
Year Title Label
2006 Collaborations with Gurdas Maan & Sukshinder Shinda Moviebox Record Label
2008 Sar Jlayn Gay Roshani Hogee
2009 Awain Na Kar Zulm Ke Ik Din Muk Jana Moviebox Record Label
2010 Sar Utha Ke Moviebox Record Label
2011 Ki Karan Day O with Shahzaman and Jawad Kahlon Moviebox Record Label
2011 Sohniye-Heeriye with Bhinda Aujla (film: Love Mein Ghum) Reema Khan Film
2011 Ishqe Da Rang, music Prince Ghuman Speed Records and Inda Raikoti
2013 Hogya Ni Piyar with Suman, music Khiza Moviebox Record Label
2013 Pani da Bulbula (film: Zinda Bhaag) Mazhar Zaidi Production
2013 Ishq di Booti Coke Studio Pakistan (season 6)
2014 Allah Hu with Saieen Zahoor Coke Studio Pakistan (season 6)
2014 Ithy Rakh with Sukshinder Shinda Moviebox Record Label
2014 Pani da Bulbula Coke Studio Pakistan (season 7)
2016 Qaseeda Burda Shareef Peace Records
2016 Bekarar with Farhan NTF VIP Records
2017 Facebook Utte, music DJ Sanj Moviebox Record Label
2018 Hum Dekhenge (promo song Ft several artists) Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11)
2018 Mere Rashke Qamar, music Asif Khan Moviebox Record Label
2018 Ballay Ballay with Aima Baig Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11)
2019 Diamond Ring, music Arbaz Khan Beyond Records
2019 Rahiya Sohneya Akhrot Film
2019 Bhabhi with Shipra Goyal and Jaidev Kumar (film: Ishq My Religion) Gurdeep Dhillon Films
2019 Billo Coke Studio Pakistan (season 12)
2019 Chamkeeli
2020 Paar with Bohemia Kali Denali Music
2020 Udaasi ki Raatain Kashmir

Television
Year Program Role Channel
2004 Music Show: Star Host Himself/host ATV
2015 Ramzan Transmission: Mohabbat Hai Ramzan Himself/host A-Plus TV
2016-17 Talk Show: Darja-e-Shararat Himself/host Samaa TV

TEDx Talks
Date Topic Venue Location
2019 Developing Free Healthcare[12] TEDx Talks - TMUC Islamabad, Pakistan
2019 Youth in a Nation Building Process[13] TEDx Talks - Bahria University Islamabad, Pakistan

Awards
Year Award Category Award ceremony Result
2000 PTV Awards Folk singer PTV World Won
2002 Lux Style Award Best Singer 2002 Best Singer 1st Lux Style Awards Won
2003 Lux Style Award Best Singer 2003 Best Singer 2nd Lux Style Awards Won
2004 PTV Awards Six years consecutive award holder for best pop singer PTV Home Won
2018 Lux Style Award Best Dress Male Best Dress (Male) 17th Lux Style Awards Won

Philanthropy

Sahara for Life Trust

Abrar-ul-Haq is the Founder and Chairman of Sahara for Life Trust (SLT) since its inception in 1998. SLT is a non-profit charitable organisation promoting health and education in remote areas.[2][14] SAHARA stands for: "Services Aimed at Health and Awakening in Remote Areas". SLT is recognized and registered as a leading charitable organization in Pakistan, U.K & U.S.A. It is also certified by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP ) and U.N (under the charter of DESA). SLT has been involved in numerous relief and rehabilitation efforts over the years. In 2003, SLT established its first large-scale general hospital in Narowal, Pakistan. The Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital Complex is a PMDC certified General Hospital that provides a wide range of healthcare services to the people of Narowal and its surrounding areas. The location of this hospital also reduced the travel time for patients in critical condition who were unable to travel to major cities for treatment in a timely manner, saving countless lives.[15] In December 2015, SLT opened their Sahara Medical College doors in Narowal, giving admissions to 100 students for their first graduating class and expanding the Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital Complex into a teaching hospital. In March 2019, Chairman Abrar-ul-Haq announced SLT‘s next project - the Sahara Cancer Hospital in Narowal.

Major Projects

Other Projects

Honours & Recognition
  • Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) received by the President of Pakistan on 23 March 2005 for Public Service/Music/Philanthropy.[16]
  • Sitara-e-Eisaar received by the President of Pakistan on 30 June 2006 for outstanding humanitarian relief work during the 8 October 2005 devastating earthquake in Pakistan.[17]
  • Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)- Appointed Humanitarian Ambassador of OIC on 11 January 2011.[18]

Political career

In January 2006, Abrar-ul-Haq began the Youth Parliament of Pakistan, a non-political organization that fosters the development of young people. In December 2011, Abrar-ul-Haq then joined the Pakistani political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[19]

Youth Parliament of Pakistan

Youth Parliament of Pakistan- Chairman (2006–present).[20]

The Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) is a non-profit, non-political and non-religious program that fosters excellence and translates talent in the young people of Pakistan through community service and tangible achievements. Its vision is to empower the young people of Pakistan with the ability to understand their role in society.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)- Senior member (2011–present).[21]


Personal life

He married Hareem Abrar in 2005, he has one son (Muhammad Taha) and two daughters (Hamna Abrar & Inaya Abrar).

References
  1. Abrar-ul-Haq is back with a bhangra The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 29 April 2016, Retrieved 14 May 2019
  2. Abrar-ul-Haq to address House of Lords The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 7 June 2012, Retrieved 17 May 2019
  3. "Statistics on Abrar-ul-Haq's albums". Abrar-ul-Haq Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  4. "India Today International". India Today International. Living Media India Limited. 25 (40–52): 16. 2000. King of Pakistani Pop Arad Al Hukh
  5. "The List Of PTI Candidates For General Election 2018". insaf.pk.
  6. Khan, Aasim Zafar (18 October 2015). "An era without an anthem". The News on Sunday. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. Paracha, Nadeem F. (27 February 2014). "The 10 Best Pakistani Political/Social Parody Songs … Ever!". Dawn. Karachi. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. Ghafoor, Usman (23 December 2019). "Abrar ul Haq lands in trouble with 'Chamkeeli'". Gulf News. Dubai. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. "SC summons Abrar over controversial song". Dawn. Karachi. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  10. Bilal, Rana (19 December 2019). "Abrar-ul-Haq's Chamkeeli comes under fire for apparently insulting men and women". Dawn. Karachi. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  11. Abrar-ul-Haq - profile and interview ForumPakistan.com website, Retrieved 17 May 2019
  12. TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 23 January 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020
  13. TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 5 February 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020
  14. About Sahara for Life Trust Archived 10 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. saharaforlife.org
  15. "About Sughra Shafi Medical complex". Sahara for Life Trust. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  16. 130 nationals, foreigners to get civil awards Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2004, Retrieved 14 May 2019
  17. Awards conferred for earthquake relief work Dawn (newspaper), Published 1 July 2006, Retrieved 17 May 2019
  18. Press Reader: Arab News (newspaper), Published 12 January 2011, Retrieved 11 February 2020
  19. "Abrar Ul Haq Singer & Philanthropist Joins Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf". AwamiWeb.com. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  20. "Youth Parliament of Pakistan". 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  21. Business Recorder (newspaper), Published 20 December 2011, Retrieved 3 January 2020
  22. Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 7 June 2012, Retrieved 3 January 2020
  23. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf#Intra-party elections Pakistan_Tehreek-e-Insaf (wikipedia)
  24. Electionpakistani (election results), Published 2013, Retrieved 5 January 2020
  25. GEOtv (election results), Published July 2018, Retrieved 5 January 2020
  26. Dawn (newspaper), Published 26 December 2019, Retrieved 3 January 2020
  27. Daily Times (newspaper), Published 28 December 2019, Retrieved 3 January 2020
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