TORONTO – Veteran Pakistani singer Sajjad Ali has revealed that contestants on Pakistan Idol are not allowed to perform his songs due to unresolved copyright negotiations with the show’s organisers.
Speaking at a press conference in Canada, the Har Zulm hitmaker said the production team had approached him to obtain rights for contestants to perform his tracks, but the discussions did not lead to a financial agreement. “Every contestant desired to sing our songs,” Ali shared, adding that performers who choose his music typically receive high praise from judges and audiences alike.
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The singer explained that the limitation stems from the legal framework protecting artists’ intellectual property. “This is not a personal decision — it’s the law,” he said. “Creators have exclusive rights to their work, and no one can perform or adapt it publicly without permission.” He added that the organisers mainly secured licenses from EMI Records, which owns rights to legendary artists such as Noor Jehan, Mehdi Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Strings, and Vital Signs.
Ali’s comments have sparked mixed reactions online. Some fans supported his stance on copyright protection, while others criticised the restriction, calling it unfair to aspiring singers. One user wrote, “We respect you a lot, but this statement is unnecessary,” while another said, “It’s a competition — contestants should be allowed to sing the song of their choice.”
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In contrast, singer Falak Shabir took to Instagram to announce that he had granted Pakistan Idol full permission to use all his songs. “Rising singers deserve a platform to shine,” Falak wrote, earning widespread praise for supporting emerging talent.