The fifth death anniversary of renowned singer turned religious preacher Junaid Jamshed is being observed today (Tuesday). Jamshed and his second wife died on December 7, 2016 when PIA Flight 661 crashed in Havelian.
Junaid rose to fame with his patriotic song Dil Dil Pakistan, was born in Karachi on 3rd Sept, 1964. His father Jamshed Akber Khan was a retired Group Captain in Pakistan Air Force. After graduating from local boarding high school in Lahore, Jamshed proceeded to join the PAF, initially focusing to become professional F-16 fighter pilot.
But due to weak eye-sight during the tough physical, his nomination papers were rejected by the PAF selection board. In 1983, Jamshed started performing rock music gig in Peshawar University and Islamabad University campuses while as a student at UET in Lahore. He joined his engineering universityโs rock band, Nuts and Bolt, as a lead vocalist and performed at Flashmanโs Hotel in 1987 Rawalpindi.
Though the band Vital Signs was launched in early 1986 in Rawalpindi by Keyboardist Rohail Hyatt and bassist Shahzad Hasan (Shahi), it wasnโt until later when Junaid Jamshed, then joined them as their lead singer.
They began performing in different parts of the country after having secured a place in the underground music industry in Islamabad and Lahore. Though their debut hit single, “Dil Dil Pakistan” and “Tum Mil Gaye”, was released on August 14,1987, skyrocketed them into national fame and national prominence.
Both songs were the biggest commercial hit and had garnered highly critical acclaims of their work. In 2004, Jamshed officially renounced music and engineering after announcing to devote his life to Islam. In 2007, government of Pakistan awarded him Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
