Updated 03 Sep, 2018 04:11pm

Junaid Jamshed's life in photos

Junaid Jamshed, once famous as the face of one of Pakistan's most iconic pop/rock bands Vital Signs, died in a plane crash on December 7, 2016. He was 51. He is survived by a wife, three sons and a daughter.

Junaid was on board Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-661, which crashed on the way to Islamabad from Chitral.

Born on September 3, 1965 and educated at the the University of Engineering and Technology (Lahore), Junaid enjoyed a 17-year stint in the Pakistani pop music industry.

Junaid Jamshed was on top of the singing game in the '90s

He shot to fame as the vocalist of Vital Signs, which emerged in 1987 as the project of reclusive TV producer Shoaib Mansoor. Mansoor wanted the band to record a patriotic song and video. The song went on to become the timeless track 'Dil Dil Pakistan'.

Junaid Jamshed with Shoaib Mansoor who was a mentor and great influence to the Vital Signs band

The hit propelled the band into becoming one of the country’s biggest modern pop acts that would go on to record four best-selling albums and head dozens of concerts between 1989 and 1996. It also bagged the group a lucrative contract from Pepsi Co. Pakistan.

Seen here with the Vital Signs, Junaid Jamshed remained the band's vocalist till 1997

Coupled with his singing talent, Junaid's good loocks earned him a huge female fan following.

A view of a concert organised at a girl's college

Junaid went solo in 1997, releasing his debut solo album, Junaid of Vital Signs.

Junaid Jamshed went solo in 1997

He followed that up with two more solo albums, Us Rah Par in 1999 and Dil Ki Baat in 2002.

Junaid Jamshed with his singing contemporaries, Fakhr-e-Alam and Najam Sheraz

But he was soon to wind up his musical career.

Junaid Jamshed playing a show in Surrey, Australia

In 2004, Jamshed left the music industry after a spiritual awakening, choosing to devote his life to religious activities.

Junaid Jamshed with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and spiritual mentor Tariq Jameel during the 2012 pilgrimage

He released his debut religious album, Jalwa-e-Janan in 2005.

Junaid Jamshed in high spirits during Ramazan transmission with Faysal Qureshi and Najam Sheraz

He followed that up with Mehboob-e-Yazdaan in 2006, Badr-ud-Duja in 2008, and Badee-uz-Zaman in 2009.

Junaid Jamshed at the Muslim Charity fund-raising dinner in the UK in 2013

Junaid Jamshed made a brief return from his musical hiatus with the release of 'Chand Sitara' in August last year, a collaboration between Vital Signs and Junoon, another one of Pakistan's most iconic pop/rock bands.

Junaid Jamshed with junoon frontman Salman Ahmad and Vital Signs guitarist Shahi Hasan

At the launch, Junaid Jamshed went on stage to perform 'Dil Dil Pakistan'.

The event marked a coming together of old friends.

Junaid Jamshed with friends at the launch of 'Chaand Sitara' track in Lahore

Before his unfortunate plane crash, Junaid was spending happy days "with (his) friends in the Path of Allah" in Chitral.

One of Junaid Jamshed's final photographs taken with friends posing against the snowcapped Tirchmir in Chitral

He was travelling to Islamabad when his plane crashed.

One of Junaid Jamshed's final photographs taken with friends posing against the snowcapped Tirchmir in Chitral


A previous version of this story erroneously stated that Junaid Jamshed went solo in 1994. He launched his solo career in 1997. The error is regretted.

Read Comments