The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has expressed deep grief over the passing away of noted Ghazal singer, Shri Mehdi Hassan. 

In a letter to his son Mr. Arif Hassan, the Prime Minister said that " I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of your father Mehdi Hasan Sahab earlier today. This is a loss that is shared by ghazal lovers the world over. It is also one that legions of admirers of Mehdi Hassan in the subcontinent will find hard to bear.

I wish to send my deepest condolences to the family of Mehdi Hassan Sahab and especially to the people of Pakistan who have lost an invaluable national treasure. Mehdi Hassan Sahab may no longer be among us but his incomparable voice will live forever"