Event Summary
On 3 January 2026, during a government-sponsored Music and Cultural Night titled “Chandni Raatain” held at the historic Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against qawwal Faraz Amjad Khan for performing a qawwali on that included the phrase referencing “Prisoner No. 804”. Organised by the Walled City of Lahore Authority as a non-political programme, the event’s organisers alleged that the song introduced political content, risking public disorder and undermining the event’s cultural character. The FIR, filed on 4 January, under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, claimed the performance was deliberate and conducted without prior permission. Authorities asserted the song stirred excitement and agitation among attendees.
The incident sparked widespread debate over the limits of artistic expression in public spaces. Khan denied any political intent, stating he performed the piece at the audience’s request and has no political affiliations. A Lahore court subsequently granted him interim/pre-arrest bail on 5 January 2026 while investigations continue, and the singer has expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities.
Beyond the individual case, the FIR reflects broader concerns about shrinking civic and cultural space in Pakistan, where media, performances, and online content face heightened scrutiny for perceived dissent. Similar incidents over the past year involving artists, journalists, and performers suggest a growing intolerance for alternative narratives, even when expressed peacefully through traditional art forms. Historically, qawwali, poetry, and folk traditions have served as vehicles for social commentary, dissent, and collective expression, particularly during periods of political restriction. Actions like criminalising artistic performances discourage artists from engaging in culturally rooted critique and contribute to a climate of self-censorship. This trend risks weakening Pakistan’s democratic culture by limiting artistic freedom, public discourse, and the role of culture as a space for reflection, diversity of thought, and nonviolent resistance.