Junaid Jamshed Khan

1964_2016

He refused to be ordinary. Ever since I had known him, he lived larger than life. We were in the same class but it was him who always shined. He was the Head Prefect, started every school day with a recitation from Quran in the school assembly, was always front and center in school plays and na'at events, contributed actively to the school magazine and was the teachers' pet. In the fabled words of Sir Hashmi, he truly was "Model School ka Model Bacha". Everyone in the school knew him and looked up to him.

And then he was Junaid Jamshed, the Nation's pet. The lead at Vital Signs, the young man who gave us our anthem; Dil Dil Pakistan. He gave us songs that a generation would sing fondly.



At the peak of his stardom, when his heart turned and he decided to not sing anymore, he created a hugely popular clothes label that went International. He was the man who preached Deen on TV, took teams for Hajj and gave talks on Islam globally. And then the World knew him and respected him.


Today, he died as he had lived... Larger than Life. Not in his bed but in a plane crash on his way back from a tablighi mission to a place he called paradise in his last twitter.

Everyone dies but only few really live. In his own words;
"Hum kiyoon chalain us rah par, jis rah par sab hi chalain
Kiyoon na chunain woh rasta, jis par naheen koyee gaya"

Junaid Jamshed, rest in peace my friend. Until we meet again.

Sharjeel and the class of 80
PAF Model School
Sharae Faisal, Karachi