ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – The seventh death anniversary of renowned classical, ghazal singer Iqbal Bano is being observed today (Thursday).
Iqbal Bano began her professional singing career in 1950 from Radio Pakistan. She sang a large number of famous songs for films.
She was considered a specialist in singing the ghazals of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Qateel Shafai and Mirza Ghalib and thus earned the famous title of ‘Queen of Ghazal’.
She was best known for her semi-classical Urdu ghazal songs and classical thumris, but also sang easy-listening numbers in 1950s films.
Few singers of classical music matched the brilliance of her voice and her command of musical notes, critics say.
She became a cult figure under the rule of Gen Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s when she sang songs banned by the government. She violated the ban by singing revolutionary works by Pakistan’s critically acclaimed poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
She was honoured with the Presidential Pride of Performance Award in 1990.
She died in Lahore on 21st of April 2009, after a short illness.
