Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal quits "un-Islamic" music

Lahore: Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal has announced he is quitting music as he believes it is "un-Islamic".

"I have quit music and have decided to follow the true teaching of my religion," he said at a news conference.

He said he just wanted to be a "good Muslim and a good human" by following the Quran and Hadith.

Uppal is a singer and songwriter who released four albums, including one in India. His songs "Tera Te Mera", "Mann Ja Ve" and "Roya Re" earned him immense popularity in both India and Pakistan.

Explaining his reasons for giving up music, Uppal said: "For the past five to six months, a battle was going on between my heart and mind and finally I have decided to say goodbye to music." 
He said he had completed his masters in business administration and would set up his own business in future.

Uppal is not the first Pakistani musician to quit music on religious grounds. Junaid Jamshad of "Dil Dil Pakistan" fame and Ali Haider too gave up music after turning to religion.

Like these other singers, Uppal reportedly decided to turn to religion after coming into contact with the Tablighi Jamaat.