Renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri was shot dead in Karachi Wednesday afternoon, after unknown assailants fired at his vehicle in the city's Liaquatabad area.
Qari Saifullah Mehsud, spokesperson for the TTP Hakimullah Mehsud group, has accepted responsibility for the attack.
Sabri was shot several times on Wednesday while driving in his car in the city's Liaqatabad area, when a motorcycle pulled up alongside the vehicle and the attackers opened fire, Pakistan's English language newspaper Dawn reported.
The 45-year-old singer is survived by wife and five chidlren.
Sabri's brother, who was also in the vehicle, was wounded.
"Two riders used 30-bore pistols to shoot Sabri five times. The bullet to the head took the qawwal's life. The attackers took the Hassan Square route to escape," Inspector General Mushtaq Mehar told Dawn.
"It was a targeted killing and an act of terrorism," Muqaddas Haider, a senior police officer told AFP news agency, without naming possible suspects.
His killing was met with shock and condemnation. Neighbours congregated outside the singer's home to offer condolences to his relatives, while TV channels broadcast recordings of his music in tribute.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack and has directed the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Earlier in 2014, the Islamabad Hight Court (IHC) had issued a notice in a blasphemy case to Amjad Sabri along with two TV channels for the playing of a qawwali during a morning show.
The traditional qawwali sung by Amjad Sabri had mentioned religious figures, which was deemed offensive.
After a blasphemy case was registered against Geo News, advocate Tariq Asad had put the onus on Qawwal Amjad Sabri and the lyricist for the blasphemy row while seeking to ban the qawwali that caused the issue.
The court had also issued notices to Federal Information Secretary, chief executive of ARY, anchors Mubashir Lucman, Nida Yasir and Shaisata Lodhi, chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and Chairman Cable Operators Association of Pakistan.
