The incident has raised questions about the rules of cultural events and has started a new debate on artistic expression.
Noor Fatima Afzal, Daily Dawn Dawn TV Report
Lahore: Police have registered a case against a singer for singing a song titled ‘Qaidi No. 804’ referring to Imran Khan during a cultural event organized under the patronage of the government at Shalimar Gardens.
The accused, who is a Qawwal by profession, has been accused of giving the event a political color, as the said song is believed to be attributed to the jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.
In the FIR registered, the plaintiff, Zameer-ul-Hassan, in charge of Shalimar Gardens, took the stand that singer Faraz Khan deliberately tried to use the cultural event for his own purposes and incite people, as the song was associated with a specific political party.
A case was registered against singer Faraz Khan for singing a song attributed to Adiala Jail prisoner 804 during a government-sponsored musical night show, while the accused Qawwal Faraz Khan got his interim bail.
The Additional Sessions Judge granted interim bail till January 13. Qawwal Faraz Amjad appeared in court for interim bail. On this occasion, he said that if he had known that a case would be registered for singing, he would never have sung.
According to the report, a music and cultural night was organized at Shalimar Bagh under the auspices of the Walled City Authority, in which Qawwal Faraz Khan and his accomplices performed qawwali.
An FIR was registered against Qawwal Faraz Khan for singing a song attributed to Adiala Jail prisoner 804 during the program.
The case was registered at Shalimar Police Station on the complaint of Shalimar Bagh in-charge Zameer, which includes various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The FIR registered at Baghbanpura Police Station, Lahore, states that a music and cultural night program titled ‘Chandni Rato’ is organized under the auspices of the Walled City of Lahore Authority in Shalimar Bagh, which is a purely cultural event, and its aim is to promote culture, music, and harmony in the world.
In the FIR, the in-charge of Shalimar Bagh took the position that ‘no political content or sloganeering is allowed in this event, however, on February 3, during the Qawwali Night, Faraz Khan and his fellow Qawwals deliberately sang a politically provocative song without permission, the lyrics of which were ‘Jail Adiala Qaidi 804’, which was stopped by the administration.’
According to the FIR, ‘this song created excitement in the public gathering, there was a fear of public order being affected, the non-political and cultural purpose of the event was sabotaged, and the reputation, impartiality and dignity of a government institution were severely damaged.’
According to the FIR, ‘this act of Qawwal Faraz Khan is highly irresponsible, condemnable and tantamount to exceeding the legal limits.’ This act is an attempt to provoke the public, disrupt public order, and make the state institution controversial, which is a punishable offense.
Qawwal Faraz Khan took the position that he sang the song on request, but despite this, a case was registered against him.
It should be noted that the program held at Shalimar Bagh was open to the public; the incident has raised questions about the rules of cultural events, and a new debate has begun on artistic expression.
According to the police, an investigation has been launched into the matter, action is being taken as per the law, and various aspects of the incident are being reviewed.
According to him, a music and culture event was organized by the Walled City of Lahore Authority, which was a non-political event.
However, he said that the singer and his companions sang a song attributed to the PTI leader on the demand of some of the attendees.
According to the plaintiff, the accused should have realized that the event was for the public and that people affiliated with different political parties participated in it.
The plaintiff said that the controversial song could have led to a law and order situation or violence, so action should be taken against the accused and his associates under the law.
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