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Abrar-ul-Haq
Abrar-ul-Haq
ابرار الحق
	Abrar-ul-Haq in 2018
Born	21 July 1969 (age 55); Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Alma mater	Sir Syed College; Quaid-i-Azam University;
Occupations	Singer-songwriter; Philanthropist; Politician;
Notable work	Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital Complex; Sahara Medical College;
Office	Founder/Chairman Sahara for Life Trust
Children	4
Awards	Lux Style Awards; PTV Awards;
Honours	Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (2005); Sitara-e-Eisaar (2006);
	Musical career
Genres	Pop; Bhangra; Punjabi Music;
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Sound Master; Moviebox Record; TP Gold; Fire Records; Kali Denali Music; Beyond Records; Coke Studio;
Website	saharaforlife.org

Abrar-ul-Haq (Punjabi: ابرار الحق) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and a politician.^[2]^[3]

His debut 1995 album Billo De Ghar sold over 40.3 million albums worldwide,^[4] which made him a household name and granted him the title of "King of Pakistani pop".^[5]

Abrar-ul-Haq is the founder and chairman of Sahara for Life Trust, a private organization that has been providing health services to the people of Narowal and surrounding areas since 1998. He was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's candidate for the seat of National Assembly from constituency NA-78 (Narowal-II) in the 2018 Pakistani general election.^[6]

Early life and education

Abrar-ul-Haq was born in Faisalabad, Punjab to a civil servant father, and is the youngest among eight siblings.^[7] He belongs to Punjabi Jat family of the Kahlon clan and his elder brother Maj (r) Israr-ul-Haq Kahlon is an active politician in Narowal.^[8]

He was initially educated at the Junior Model School, Gujrat^[7] later graduating from the Sir Syed College, Rawalpindi before getting his Master's degree in social sciences from the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.^[8]

Academic career

Abrar-ul-Haq served as a teacher in Aitchison College, Lahore for a brief period of time but quit the faculty when he opted for a music career.^[9]^[8]

Music career

His first album as singer was Billo De Ghar, which was released in 1995.^[10]

Controversies

Abrar-ul-Haq's songs have been a subject of controversy in Pakistan. After the release of the hit song Billo De Ghar in 1995, Urdu newspapers began quoting Islamic scholars of Lahore who were of the opinion that the song was 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.^[11]

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.^[12]

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.^[13]

In 2019, his song Chamkeeli was the subject of a claim in a 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.^[14]

Philanthropy

Sahara for Life Trust

Abrar-ul-Haq is the Founder and Chairman of Sahara for Life Trust (SLT), a post he has held since its inception in 1998. SLT is a private organization promoting health and education in remote areas.^[3]^[15] SAHARA stands for: "Services Aimed at Health and Awakening in Remote Areas". SLT is recognized and registered as a leading charitable organization in Pakistan, the U.K, and the U.S. It is also certified by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP) and the 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 in a timely manner, thus saving lives.

Niaz Support

In 2023, he was appointed the global goodwill ambassador of Niaz Support. This is a social enterprise in Pakistan that provides customized wheelchairs to people with disabilities. It also involves them in the manufacturing process, creating employment opportunities for them^[16]

Political career

Youth Parliament of Pakistan

In 2006, he founded the Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP), a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious program.^[17]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2011-2023)

In December 2011 Abrar-ul-Haq joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.^[18]

In 2012, he was appointed as President of the Youth Wing of PTI.^[19] In 2013, he was appointed as PTI's Secretary of Foreign Affairs.^[20]

He ran for a seat on the National Assembly as PTI's Candidate for Constituency NA-117 (Narowal-III) in the 2013 Pakistani general elections receiving 51,359 votes and lost to PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal.^[21]

He was again nominated as PTI's Candidate for National Assembly Constituency NA-78 (Narowal-II) for the 2018 Pakistani general elections but received 88,250 votes and lost to PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal.^[22]^[6]

On 15 November 2019, he was appointed Pakistan Red Crescent Society's 16th chairman and assumed office on 27 December 2019.^[23]^[24]

In 2023, he left the PTI and quit politics following the controversy surrounding the May 9 riots.^[25]

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Label
1995	Billo De Ghar
1998	Majajani^[4]	Sound Master
1999	Bay Ja Cycle Te^[2]
2000	Mein Gaddi Aap Chalawan Ga
2002	Assan Jana Mall-o Mall^[26]	DJ Gold
2004	Nachan Main Audhay Naal^[4]	TP Gold
2007	Nara Sada Ishq Aye^[26]	Fire Records
2013	Sab Rang Aap (Pbuh) Se	Moviebox Record Label
2016	Billo Returns Aithay Rakh^[27]	ARY Musik

Studio releases

Year	Title	Label
2006	Collaborations with Gurdas Maan & Sukshinder Shinda^[28]	Moviebox Record Label
2008	Sar Jalayn Gay Roshani Hogee
2009	Awain Na Kar Zulm Ke Ik Din Muk Jana
2010	Sar Utha Ke
2011	Ki Karan Day O with Shahzaman and Jawad Kahlon
	Sohniye-Heeriye with Bhinda Aujla (film: Love Mein Ghum)	Reema Khan Film
	Ishqe Da Rang, music by Prince Ghuman	Speed Records and Inda Raikoti
2013	Hogya Ni Piyar with Suman, music by Khiza	Moviebox Record Label
	Pani Da Bulbula^[29] (film: Zinda Bhaag)	Mazhar Zaidi Production
	Ishq Di Booti^[30]	Coke Studio Pakistan (season 6)
2014	Allah Hu with Saieen Zahoor	Coke Studio Pakistan (season 6)
	Ithy Rakh^[31] with Sukshinder Shinda (Album:Collaborations 3)	Moviebox Record Label
	Pani Da Bulbula	Coke Studio Pakistan (season 7)
2016	Qaseeda Burda Shareef	Peace Records
2016	Bekarar with Farhan NTF^[32]	VIP Records
2017	Facebook Utte, music by DJ Sanj	Moviebox Record Label
2018	Hum Dekhenge (promo song ft. several artists)^[33]	Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11)
	Mere Rashke Qamar, music by Asif Khan	Moviebox Record Label
	Ballay Ballay with Aima Baig	Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11)
2019	Diamond Ring^[31] ft. Arbaz Khan	Beyond Records
	Rahiya Sohneya	Akhrot Film
	Bhabhi^[31] with Shipra Goyal and Jaidev Kumar (film: Ishq My Religion)	Gurdeep Dhillon Films
	Billo^[34]	Coke Studio Pakistan (season 12)
	Chamkeeli^[12]^[14]	Independent Record Label
2020	Paar with Bohemia	Kali Denali Music
2020	Udaasi Ki Raatain – Tribute to Kashmir	Independent Record Label
2021	Sun Lay Tu
	Bol Qalandar
	Ho Idhr Bi Nazar E Karam Ya Rasul Allah
	Begum Shak Karti Hai
2022	Punjab Culture Song
	Imported Hakoomat Song
	Pardesi Zindabad	UBL Roshan Digital
	Hai Haq Hamara Azaadi - PTI Anthem	Independent Record Label

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^[35]	TEDx Talks – TMUC	Islamabad, Pakistan
2019	Youth in a Nation Building Process^[36]	TEDx Talks – Bahria University	Islamabad, Pakistan

Honours and recognition

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) received from the President of Pakistan on 23 March 2005, for public service / music / philanthropy.^[37]
Sitara-e-Eisaar received from the President of Pakistan on 30 June 2006, for outstanding humanitarian relief work during the 8 October 2005 devastating earthquake in Pakistan.^[38]
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – Appointed Humanitarian Ambassador of the OIC on 11 January 2011.^[39]

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

References

^ "Meet The Beautiful Family Of Ace Singer Abrar Ul Haq". Health Fashion. 9 February 2020.
^ ^a ^b Lodhi, Adnan (29 April 2016). "Abrar Ul Haq is back with a bangra". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Abrarul Haq to address House of Lords". The Express Tribune. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Statistics on Abrar-ul-Haq's albums". Abrar-ul-Haq Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ "India Today International". India Today International. 25 (40–52). Living Media India Limited: 16. 2000. King of Pakistani Pop Arad Al Hukh
^ ^a ^b "The List Of PTI Candidates For General Election 2018". insaf.pk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^ ^a ^b Javed, Amna (1 June 2015). "Abrar-ul-Haq: In Pursuit of Life through Song & Philanthropy". Youlin Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Profile: Abrar-ul-Haq". Pride of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024.
^ "Abrar-ul-Haq – biography and personal life". Profiles of Famous Pakistanis. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ Khan, Aasim Zafar (18 October 2015). "An era without an anthem". The News on Sunday. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
^ Paracha, Nadeem F. (27 February 2014). "The 10 Best Pakistani Political/Social Parody Songs … Ever!". Dawn. Karachi. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b Ghafoor, Usman (23 December 2019). "Abrar ul Haq lands in trouble with 'Chamkeeli'". Gulf News. Dubai. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
^ "SC summons Abrar over controversial song". Dawn. Karachi. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ About Sahara for Life Trust Archived 10 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. saharaforlife.org
^ Islamabad (3 January 2023). "Jahangir Khan, Abrar-ul-Haq and Azam Jamil become the Global Goodwill Ambassadors for Niaz". IslamabadPost. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
^ "Youth Parliament of Pakistan". 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
^ Business Recorder, published 20 December 2011, retrieved 3 January 2020
^ Pakistan Today, published 7 June 2012, retrieved 3 January 2020
^ Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf#Intra-party elections Pakistan_Tehreek-e-Insaf (wikipedia)
^ "NA-117 Narowal-III, National Assembly Election 2013 Results & Party Position". UrduPoint. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
^ GEOtv (election results), published July 2018, retrieved 5 January 2020
^ Dawn, published 26 December 2019, retrieved 3 January 2020
^ Daily Times, published 28 December 2019, retrieved 3 January 2020
^ "Abrarul Haq, Saifullah Nyazee leave PTI". 26 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Abrar-ul-Haq – profile and interview" Archived 17 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine ForumPakistan.com website, Retrieved 17 May 2019
^ Warraich, Faizan Ali (30 April 2016). "Abrar comes up with 'Billo Returns Aithay Rakh' after 9 years". The Nation. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
^ "Collaborations", IMDb (Short, Musical), 1 January 2006, retrieved 4 November 2021
^ "Five cover songs of 2013 that blew us away". The Express Tribune. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
^ "Coke Studio 6: Ayesha Omar eclipses two maestros". The Express Tribune. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Begum Shak Karti Hai: Abrar Ul Haq dedicates latest song to all 'run mureeds'". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
^ "Abrar Ul Haq releases one-of-a-kind love song". The Express Tribune. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
^ Maheen Sabeeh (24 July 2018). "Coke Studio 11 announces itself with 'Hum Dekhenge'". The News International. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
^ Images Staff (26 October 2019). "People can't stop grooving to Abrar ul Haq's Coke Studio rendition of Billo". Images. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
^ [1] TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 23 January 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020
^ [2] TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 5 February 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020
^ "130 nationals, foreigners to get civil awards". Dawn. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^ "Awards conferred for earthquake relief work" Dawn, published 1 July 2006, retrieved 17 May 2019
^ Press Reader: Arab News, published 12 January 2011, retrieved 11 February 2020

External links

Abrar-Ul-Haq at Punjabi Studio

[1] "Meet The Beautiful Family Of Ace Singer Abrar Ul Haq". Health Fashion. 9 February 2020.

[Tribune1-2] Lodhi, Adnan (29 April 2016). "Abrar Ul Haq is back with a bangra". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 October 2022.

[Tribune2-3] "Abrarul Haq to address House of Lords". The Express Tribune. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2022.

[Abrar-4] "Statistics on Abrar-ul-Haq's albums". Abrar-ul-Haq Official Website. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2019.

[5] "India Today International". India Today International. 25 (40–52). Living Media India Limited: 16. 2000. King of Pakistani Pop Arad Al Hukh

[:0-6] "The List Of PTI Candidates For General Election 2018". insaf.pk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

[:6-7] Javed, Amna (1 June 2015). "Abrar-ul-Haq: In Pursuit of Life through Song & Philanthropy". Youlin Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024.

[:5-8] "Profile: Abrar-ul-Haq". Pride of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024.

[9] "Abrar-ul-Haq – biography and personal life". Profiles of Famous Pakistanis. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

[10] Khan, Aasim Zafar (18 October 2015). "An era without an anthem". The News on Sunday. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

[billo-explanation-11] Paracha, Nadeem F. (27 February 2014). "The 10 Best Pakistani Political/Social Parody Songs … Ever!". Dawn. Karachi. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

[punjaban-12] Ghafoor, Usman (23 December 2019). "Abrar ul Haq lands in trouble with 'Chamkeeli'". Gulf News. Dubai. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

[parveen-13] "SC summons Abrar over controversial song". Dawn. Karachi. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2021.

[chamkeeli-14] 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.

[15] About Sahara for Life Trust Archived 10 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. saharaforlife.org

[16] Islamabad (3 January 2023). "Jahangir Khan, Abrar-ul-Haq and Azam Jamil become the Global Goodwill Ambassadors for Niaz". IslamabadPost. Retrieved 4 September 2024.

[BR-17] "Youth Parliament of Pakistan". 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

[18] Business Recorder, published 20 December 2011, retrieved 3 January 2020

[19] Pakistan Today, published 7 June 2012, retrieved 3 January 2020

[20] Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf#Intra-party elections Pakistan_Tehreek-e-Insaf (wikipedia)

[21] "NA-117 Narowal-III, National Assembly Election 2013 Results & Party Position". UrduPoint. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

[GEOtv-22] GEOtv (election results), published July 2018, retrieved 5 January 2020

[23] Dawn, published 26 December 2019, retrieved 3 January 2020

[24] Daily Times, published 28 December 2019, retrieved 3 January 2020

[25] "Abrarul Haq, Saifullah Nyazee leave PTI". 26 May 2023.

[Forum-26] "Abrar-ul-Haq – profile and interview" Archived 17 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine ForumPakistan.com website, Retrieved 17 May 2019

[27] Warraich, Faizan Ali (30 April 2016). "Abrar comes up with 'Billo Returns Aithay Rakh' after 9 years". The Nation. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

[28] "Collaborations", IMDb (Short, Musical), 1 January 2006, retrieved 4 November 2021

[29] "Five cover songs of 2013 that blew us away". The Express Tribune. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.

[30] "Coke Studio 6: Ayesha Omar eclipses two maestros". The Express Tribune. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

[:1-31] "Begum Shak Karti Hai: Abrar Ul Haq dedicates latest song to all 'run mureeds'". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

[32] "Abrar Ul Haq releases one-of-a-kind love song". The Express Tribune. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

[33] Maheen Sabeeh (24 July 2018). "Coke Studio 11 announces itself with 'Hum Dekhenge'". The News International. Retrieved 29 July 2018.

[34] Images Staff (26 October 2019). "People can't stop grooving to Abrar ul Haq's Coke Studio rendition of Billo". Images. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

[35] [1] TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 23 January 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020

[36] [2] TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 5 February 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020

[:2-37] "130 nationals, foreigners to get civil awards". Dawn. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

[:3-38] "Awards conferred for earthquake relief work" Dawn, published 1 July 2006, retrieved 17 May 2019

[:4-39] Press Reader: Arab News, published 12 January 2011, retrieved 11 February 2020

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Abrar-ul-Haq