ISLAMABAD: Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was awarded Pakistan’s second highest civilian award ‘Hilal-e-Imtiaz’ by President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Pakistan Day for his services to Pakistani and South Asian music industry.
Khan, a star of Pakistan and a music icon, was awarded the ‘Hilal-e-Imtiaz’ for his contributions to the field of art, Qawwali and singing, as well as for elevating Pakistani art to the international platform with his enthralling performances. Qawwali and contemporary music.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said he was grateful for the honour.
The singer said, “It is with deep gratitude that I accept the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz & Sitara-I-Imtiaz awards conferred on me by the Honorable President. I express my sincere gratitude to my esteemed family, friends and devoted fans whose unwavering support has guided me on this remarkable journey. Together we stand in humble awe, inspired to continue our pursuit of excellence.”
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan expressed immense gratitude for being honored with Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2018 and now Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2024, he considers it a significant privilege. He pledged to continue to showcase the softer aspects of Pakistan to the international community. He recognized these awards as the highest civilian honors and felt obliged to uphold the legacy of his uncle and mentor Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan through modern interpretations of Qawwali. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the nation and his global fans for their unwavering support throughout his journey.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced two weeks ago that it had found no evidence linking famous singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to money laundering, tax evasion or other illegal activities. The country’s top investigative agency said it has closed its investigation into an alleged money laundering and tax evasion case involving the acclaimed singer, citing a lack of evidence to support any wrongdoing.
Additional Director FIA Lahore Zone confirmed that the competent authority has approved the closure of the investigation against Rabat Fateh Ali Khan and others based on the recommendations of the investigation unit. “After reviewing the available records, no evidence was found to implicate Khan in illegal currency smuggling,” said a senior FIA officer.
According to details provided by FIA Lahore, an investigation was initiated against the singer and 182 other frequent commuters who traveled abroad for work from the Lahore International Airport in January.
The money laundering and tax evasion investigation was based on frequent flyer data with a particular focus on identifying those involved in currency smuggling or money laundering, the report said.
“Details of 182 passengers were provided by the Deputy Director of Immigration at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. Steps were subsequently taken to identify all frequent flyers involved in currency smuggling or money laundering. Khan’s name was also listed among the frequent travelers. However, after a review of the available records, there was no evidence against the singer linking him to illegal currency smuggling activities.
