Composer Waqar Ali, Sajjad Ali's brother, reveals stage 4 lung cancer and asks for prayers

Pakistani singer, composer and producer Waqar Ali has told fans he has been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He shared the news on social media on October 22 and asked people to remember him in their prayers.

What he said

According to 24 News HD and Daily Pakistan, Waqar Ali described the diagnosis as a difficult chapter for him and his family. He said sharing it was not easy, but he felt he owed it to the people who had supported his music over the years.

He said he is facing it “one day at a time with faith, courage and hope”, and thanked fans for the love they have given him over the years. Music, he said, has always been his way of connecting with people.

Who is Waqar Ali?

Waqar Ali, 60, is the younger brother of the legendary vocalist Sajjad Ali, and the two have worked together often. They come from a musical family: Daily Pakistan notes their father, Shafqat Hussain, was linked to classical music.

If you have watched Pakistani dramas over the past two decades, you have almost certainly heard his work. His credits, as listed by 24 News HD, include:

• the OST of Gul-e-Rana
• music for Parizaad, Cheekh and Thori Khushi Thora Gham
• songs like “Tum Yaad Aaye”, “Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat” and “Khuda Mera Bhi Hai”
• “Woh Ho Tum” from the film Biryani, “Raanjhana Ve” and “Paisay Anay De”

The reaction

Messages of support poured in from Pakistani artists and fans after his post, with many sharing his songs and praying for his recovery.

A note on lung cancer

Stage IV means the cancer has spread beyond where it started. If you or someone in your family has a persistent cough, chest pain or unexplained weight loss, please see a doctor early.

Everyone at Digital Akhbaar wishes Waqar Ali strength and a full recovery.