Shafaullah Rokhri

{{Short description|Pakistani folk singer (1966–2020)}}

{{use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Shafaullah Khan Rokhri

| honorific_suffix =

| image = Shafaullah khan Rokhri.jpg

| image_upright =

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption =

| background =

| native_name = شفاء اللہ خان روکھڑی

| native_name_lang =

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = 1966

| birth_place = Rokhri, Mianwali, Pakistan

| origin =

| death_date = {{Death date|2020|8|29|df=54}}

| death_place = Islamabad, Pakistan

| genre = Folk, ghazal

| occupation = Folk singer, songwriter, music composer

| instrument =

| years_active = 1980s–2020

| label = Rokhri Productions
Thar Production Pakistan

| associated_acts =

}}

Shafaullah Khan Rokhri (1966 – 29 August 2020) was a Pakistani folk singer, songwriter, and music producer renowned for his contributions to the Saraiki regional music of Pakistan.

He mainly sang Saraiki and Punjabi songs which are popular all over Pakistan. He and his son Zeeshan Khan Rokhri produced music under their own label, Rokhri Productions.{{cite web |title=Singer Shifaullah Rokhri passes away |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1577073 |website=DAWN.COM |access-date=4 December 2024 |language=en |date=30 August 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Renowned Saraiki folk singer Shafaullah Khan Rokhri passes away|url=http://www.radio.gov.pk/29-08-2020/renowned-saraiki-folk-singer-shafaullah-khan-rokhri-passes-away|access-date=2024-06-28|website=Radio Pakistan website|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830190536/https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-08-2020/renowned-saraiki-folk-singer-shafaullah-khan-rokhri-passes-away|archive-date=30 August 2020|url-status=dead}}

Shafaullah Rokhri is regarded one of the most popular singers from South Punjab, second only to Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-29|title=Legendary Saraiki singer Shafa Ullah passes away|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2261722/legendary-saraiki-singer-shafa-ullah-passes-away|access-date=2020-09-05|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}

Early life

Rokhri was born in 1966 in Mianwali, Punjab, he initially joined Punjab Police as a constable but due to his interest in music, left the job to pursue career in music.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-29|title=سرائیکی کے معروف گلوکار شفاء اللہ روکھڑی انتقال کرگئے, دل کا دورہ پڑا ,عمر 54برس تھی, میانوالی میں سپردخاک کردیاگیا|url=https://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/29-Aug-2020/1209567|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Nawaiwaqt|language=ur}}

Music career

Rokhri started his music career in the 1980s and soon rose to fame.{{Cite web|title=معروف سرائیکی گلوکار شفاء اللہ روکھڑی انتقال کر گئے،وزیر اعلیٰ کا اظہار تعزیت|url=https://jang.com.pk/news/814580|access-date=2020-09-05|website=jang.com.pk}} He released a number of albums and became a prolific singer of the Saraiki folk genre. He was considered second only to Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, also from Mianwali.

In later years, his son Zeeshan Rokhri joined him and the father-son duo sang manly songs which became immensely popular in Pakistan.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-08-31|title=Saraiki Folk Singer Shafaullah Rokhri Passes Away|url=https://propakistani.pk/lens/saraiki-folk-singer-shafaullah-rokhri-passes-away/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-05|website=ProPakistani - Lens|language=en-US}} They also produced a music show, Folk Studio, and operated their own their own music label, Rokhri Productions, which featured artists from Saraiki belt.

During last decade, they mostly revamped their own songs and released them on YouTube, garnering millions of views. His songs have been covered by a number of new singers who rose to fame singing and following his style.

Personal life

He was married and had a daughter and four sons. His son Zeeshan Khan Rokhri is also a famous Saraiki singer.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-06 |title=Popular Pakistani folk singer to play in Bradford on first UK tour |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/23098993.pakistani-folk-singer-zeeshan-khan-rokhri-play-bradford/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}

Death

Rokhri died on 29 August 2020 in Islamabad, due to cardiac arrest.{{Cite web|title=Folk singer Shafaullah Rokhri dies of heart attack|website=GNN HD News|url=http://gnnhd.tv/index.php/Entertainment/18309-1598641200-folk-singer-shafaullah-rokhri-dies-of-heart-attack|access-date=2020-08-29|language=en}} Punjab's Chief Minister Usman Buzdar expressed condolences to Rokri's family, saying that he would long be remembered for the promotion of Saraiki singing.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-30|title=Seraiki folk singer Shafaullah Rokhri passes away|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/661053/seraiki-folk-singer-shafaullah-rokhri-passes-away/|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Daily Times|language=en-US}}

References