Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan to be buried on Friday

Karachi -  As the country mourns the death of the legendary Pakistani ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hassan, his family is making preparations for his funeral which will take place on June 15 after  the Jumma prayers following the arrival of his two sons from the United States.

Family members, disciples, fans, members of the musical fraternity, media personalities and politicians thronged Hassan's residence after the news of his demise spread, reports The  Express Tribune.

The mood was visibly somber in the black tent erected outside Hassan's house. His son, Asif Mehdi's tears were uncontrollable.

According to Hassan's family, the singer had recovered form his speech impairment that occurred due to a stroke, towards the end. Almost a week before his death, he started talking and  recognising his family members.

"When I asked my grandfather when he would like to go home, he said in two to three days. But yesterday night, he suddenly asked us to 'prepare ourselves and start sending the news',  which I did not understand," said Hassan's grandson, Hasan.

According to family members, the fact that his health improved and he was given a chance to be with his family, was perhaps a sign that his death was nearing. The arrival of his son, Kamran,  from the U.S a week ago made his last days more pleasurable.  Hassan leaves behind nine sons and five daughters, who reside in Karachi, Lahore and the US.

Except for his two sons in Lahore and the other two in the US, all of Hassan's children were by his death bed.