Mehdi Hassan, Pakistan’s legendary classical singer who captivated millions of music fans across South Asia, has died. He was 84.

Hassan, known as Shahenshah-e-Ghazal, or the king of classical singing among Urdu speakers across the world, died in a private hospital in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Wednesday.

His son Asif told reporters outside the hospital that his father had been suffering from multiple lung, chest and urinary tract conditions.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his condolences, calling Hassan “an icon who mesmerised music lovers” for decades.

Indian singing legend Lata Mangeshkar once likened his songs to the “voice of God”.

Hassan also won awards and accolades in India and Nepal, as well as Pakistan.

He was born in India and migrated to Pakistan after partition and independence from British rule in 1947.

PM condoles the passing away of Mehdi Hassan

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has expressed deep grief over the passing away of noted Ghazal singer, Shri Mehdi Hassan. The Prime Minister said that Shri Hassan brought the sub-continental Sufi sensibilities to life through his songs. The influence of his passion for Urdu poetry and initial grooming in Dhrupad tradition earned for him a special place in the world of music.

The Prime Minister extends his condolences to the bereaved members of Shri Mehdi Hassan’s family.