Staff Report

KARACHI: The family of renowned ghazal singer of Pakistan, Mehidi Hassan, on Wednesday sought his burial within the limits of Mazar-e-Qaid (the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah) in Karachi, but administration declined the request, SAMAA reports.

Mehdi Hassan died of prolonged illness at a hospital in Karachi today. He was 84.

Talking to SAMAA, Hassan’s son, Arif, said his father should be laid to rest within the premises of Mazar-e-Qaid as a tribute to his services for the nation.

He appealed President Asif Ali Zardari to allow the legendary singer’s burial at Quaid’s mausoleum.

However, the Mazar-e-Qaid administration has declined to accept the heir’s request, on the grounds that the graveyard is not for common citizens and it is a final resting place for Quaid-e-Azam and his closed aides who rendered sacrifices during the Pakistan movement.

“Wife of Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Kha, Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan and Quaid-e-Azam’s sister Fatima Jinnah are buried here. It’s not a common graveyard to be allocated for other citizens but an especial place for national leaders,” Muhammad Arif, resident engineer of the Mazar-e-Qaid said.

However, he said the administration would be bound to abide by the order of president of Pakistan in this regard.

President Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani have paid glowing tribute to the legendary singer in their separate messages, saying that “Mehdi Hassan’s era of quality singing would be remembered for a long.” -- SAMAA