MULTAN  –  The mention of Pathanay Khan is not merely the remembrance of a singer but it is the story of a mystic-hearted soul whose voice carried the spirit of devotion, love and Sufi thought across the deserts of South Punjab. Even years after his passing, the legendary folk singer continues to live in the hearts of music lovers through his soulful renditions of Sufi poetry. Born as Ghulam Muhammad, popularly known as Pathanay Khan, in 1920 in the village Bhikki Wala near Sinawan in the Kot Addu area, he belonged to a humble labourer’s family. His father, Muhammad Khameesi, earned a living through hard work, and the family lived a modest life. Despite limited resources, Pathanay Khan developed a deep attachment to music from a young age, Ghulam Abbas, deputy controller Radio Pakistan Multan while talking tomediamen, on death anniversary.

He received his early education in Sinawan and later continued studies at a primary school in Kot Addu after his family moved there. During his school days, students often gathered for collective prayers, and Pathanay Khan used to lead the recitations with a melodious voice. It was during these moments that teachers first noticed the extraordinary talent hidden in the young boy. Recognizing his natural gift, his teachers encouraged him to perform at a function in Lahore, said Ghulam Abbas. There, at the age of only sixteen, he sang before a large audience and received immense appreciation. But the difficult financial conditions of his family forced him to leave school soon afterward. He joined his parents in making clay utensils and working at the kiln, helping support the household while quietly nurturing his passion for music. Pathanay Khan was not just a singer but was a true dervish-like personality whose art reflected spiritual depth and simplicity. His voice gained widespread recognition for its powerful expression of the Sufi poetry of Khawaja Ghulam Farid, whose mystical verses he sang with unmatched devotion.

 Whenever he performed Farid’s kafis, he would often close his eyes and enter a state of deep spiritual immersion, leaving listeners spellbound, maintained Abbas. His famous rendition “Meda Ishq Vi Toon, Meda Yaar Vi Toon” eventually became synonymous with the identity of Kot Addu and the wider region of South Punjab. Through this timeless kafi, Pathanay Khan carried the message of divine love to countless listeners. Radio Pakistan Multan played a crucial role in bringing his voice to the world. Pathanay Khan always acknowledged this platform with gratitude and often said that Radio Pakistan Multan had lifted “a man of clay” to the heights of artistic recognition. Even when he received invitations to perform elsewhere, he continued to give priority to the station that had supported him from the beginning, stated Ghulam Abbas. His fame spread across the country, and he had admirers in many circles. Former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, through Governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar, invited him to Islamabad in 1974 to honour his artistic contributions. Despite fame and recognition, Pathanay Khan remained a symbol of simplicity. Those who visited his room for musical practice often noticed two simple mats laid on the mud floor that served both as his bed and dining space, which is a reflection of a life free from worldly luxuries. Throughout his career he received numerous honours, including the Presidential Pride of Performance, along with more than seventy-five awards acknowledging his contribution to folk and Sufi music. After presenting one of his last performances in Lahore, Pathanay Khan returned to his home in Kot Addu. Two days later, on March 9, 2000, he passed away peacefully at the age of eighty. Yet his voice refuses to fade. Whenever his iconic kafi echoes on the radio, it feels as if the wind of the Cholistan desert carries his melody once again.

But within that echo now lives a quiet nostalgia that is reminder of a legend whose simplicity, devotion and spiritual music defined an era. Today, the responsibility of keeping his musical legacy alive rests with his family and disciples, including his son Iqbal Pathanay Khan and students who continue to perform his cherished kafis.

On his death anniversary, admirers Malik Arif, Azhar Abbas, Salman and some others across South Punjab pay tribute to the legendary folk icon whose voice transformed Sufi poetry into living emotion and whose music remains a timeless echo of love, faith and spiritual longing.