Dawn Images

Singer Sahir Ali Bagga has alleged that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan did not credit him as a creator for ‘Zaroori Tha’ — a song released in 2014 — and that he had “pieces of evidence” that Khan failed to give him credit on other instances.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Bagga maintained that Khan was “the best talent of Pakistan” and that Bagga himself always attempted to help Pakistani talent be recognised globally.

He claimed, however, that he created ‘Zaroori Tha’, not knowing that it would become “a historic song of the Pakistan music industry”. Bagga stated that the song was currently “at the top in terms of Pakistani music industry, and content” and had almost two billion views on YouTube.

The ‘Mumkin To Nahi’ singer said it was his right to be credited as a creator and demanded an explanation as to why Khan, the “hero of the project”, was not giving him credit.

Immediately after Bagga’s claims, Images reached out to Khan and his team for a comment but is yet to receive a response.

Referencing a deleted Instagram story where he dubbed Khan a “hypocrite”, Bagga said that if he called someone a hypocrite he “called every person a hypocrite who wants to hide the truth and is trying to kill someone’s right”.

He requested that he be given credit for the song because it was his “right” and because he did not want junior artists who idolised him to “face problems in their struggle”.

“Apart from this I have no intention of saying anything bad about anyone,” he concluded.

Hailing from Lahore, Bagga is a popular singer, music director and composer. He recently composed for the Pakistani film, Zinda Bhaag (2013). He also appeared in Coke Studio Season 10 for ‘Dhola’ opposite Aima Baig.