Coke Studio guitarist Imran Akhoond is facing threats to the point where he can’t leave the house. The well-known session player stopped going to live gigs over fears regarding his safety.
It all started two months ago when Akhoond, along with his wife and younger daughter, drove off to Buffer Zone at 5 am. The family was headed to offer condolences because of a death in the family.
When he stepped out of the car, two unidentified men appeared out of nowhere and pushed him into his car and held the family at gunpoint. The armed men warned him to stop playing music, telling him that its haram. They also accused him of ‘working with a Jewish company’.
“What you are doing is Haraam and against the spirit of Islam. The music you play on TV is backed by Jewish companies and that is also forbidden. I hope you understand what we are trying to tell you.”
What Happened Next?
Ever since that traumatic encounter, Imran does not leave his house alone. Normally a friend comes to pick him up or he takes a Careem, so that he is never alone.
The incident took place on January 16th in the Buffer Zone. Imran lives in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Akhoond registered a complaint in the Taimuria Police Station four days later. Despite repeated requests, an FIR was not registered.
“Fifteen days later they [police] called me and asked, ‘what should we do with your complaint’ and I told them, ‘it’s not my job to find out who did it.’”
Apparently, the police don’t feel like it’s their job to find out either.
What did the Police Do?
The police have taken no action so far based on Imran Akhoond’s complaint. Central Zone SSP Arif Aslam Rao claims to be unaware of this incident altogether.
When Imran tried to follow on the case, police told him to just ‘be mindful’. They suggested that he have CCTV cameras installed at his house.
The 48-year-old musician comes from a middle-class family and can not afford to hire private security. Out of fear, he has not been performing at live events over the past two months.
Imran no longer plays night gigs and only goes outdoors in broad daylight.
“My family and I are scared to death. The threat was clearly aimed at the profession I have been involved with for the past two decades,……This is a matter of my bread and butter. I can’t drive around with my instruments, I have been recording from home as much as I can but there has to be a way out for an artist in this country.”
Imran Akhoond’s Career
Imran Akhoond started his career in 1997 as a session player for Junaid Jamshed. The guitarist then joined Awaz and later played for Hadiqa Kiani.
The session player offers his services to a list of Pakistani vocalists like Abida Parveen. He is also a permanent member of Shehzad Roy’s line-up.
Imran Akhoond has been working with Coke Studio’s house band since 2013. In 2018, he switched over to Pepsi Battle of Bands.
Terrible news !
this is NOT how it should be. Musicians are awesome when they express creativity
unfair for Imran
i think the CM should take notice of this since the police and their chief are incompetent !
Agar music haraam hai tou in extremists se poochain ke jab Pakistan ke kuch naat khwaan naat ko music ke saath parhtay hain aur kuch naat khwaan gaana sun kay gaanay ki tune ka ratta lagakay isee tune main naat parhtay hain, tou tab music haraam nahee hotee. Aisee naatown ke samples YouTube pe bharay parhay hain. Oopar se kuch ulmaye karaam naat main music ko apnee bhi facilitation ke liye halal kehtay hain tou in ki guns us waqt nakara ho jaatee hain. Aur inhee naat khwaan ka taaluq isee so called tibqay se hai.