Renowned Pakistani singer of the 1990s and now a politician, Jawad Ahmed, is once again making headlines due to his controversial remarks.
After distancing himself from music, Jawad Ahmed has frequently been seen criticizing political figures, showbiz celebrities, and even his contemporaries from the music industry - comments that often invite strong backlash.
Recently, during a news show, Jawad Ahmed labeled famous singers Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as “greedy,” reigniting debate across social and mainstream media.
Jawad Ahmed stated that he quit music due to his political ideology and no longer earns any income from singing. According to him, financial greed has no place in the field of art.
He claimed that during his era, artists were easily accessible to the public, and his music cassettes broke sales records. He added that even audiences in India were surprised by the popularity and success of Pakistani artists at the time.
Referring to his own journey, Jawad Ahmed said he performed free of charge in rural areas, with the sole condition that the songs should carry meaningful and educational messages.
Criticizing today’s singers, he remarked that most contemporary artists are now limited to weddings and corporate events and have grown distant from the general public.
In his view, this attitude is harmful to both art and artists, as the very people who gave them fame are no longer their priority.
