Pakistani singer Falak Shabir has openly expressed his support for the popular music reality show Pakistan Idol, encouraging young artists to showcase their talent freely. His statement comes amid growing controversy surrounding song copyrights and performance permissions on the show.
Taking to Instagram, Falak Shabir announced that all Pakistan Idol contestants are welcome to perform any of his songs without restriction. He stated, “I give Pakistan Idol permission to use all of my songs so that rising singers can have a platform to shine and represent Pakistan globally.” Falak also praised the judges and participants, saying he fully supports their efforts to promote musical talent across the nation.
His comments follow veteran singer Sajjad Ali’s recent revelation that contestants have been barred from performing his songs due to a copyright disagreement with the show’s organizers. During a press conference in Canada, Sajjad Ali shared that Pakistan Idol approached him to acquire music rights, but both parties failed to reach a financial agreement. He noted that contestants preferred to perform his songs, as they often received audience appreciation and higher scores for doing so.
According to Pakistan’s Copyright Ordinance of 1962, song rights belong to the creator unless legally licensed or transferred. Any public use or adaptation of copyrighted music without permission is considered a legal offense.
Sajjad Ali also explained that most of the show’s approved music comes from EMI Records, Pakistan’s oldest label, which holds rights to classics by Noor Jehan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Strings, and Vital Signs.
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The issue has sparked a broader debate about music rights and artist recognition in Pakistan. However, Falak Shabir’s gesture of allowing contestants to perform his songs freely has been widely praised by fans and industry peers alike.
