'One Pound Fish Man' set to enter the slippery business of Pakistan electoral politics

Muhammad Shahid Nazir, famous for his catchy ode to cut-price fish, is to compose an election song for the country's main opposition party - the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) of Nawaz Sharif

(Getty Images)

His song became a massive viral YouTube hit - reaching number 29 in the British pop charts - and now Muhammad Shahid Nazir, also known as the 'One Pound Fish Man', is entering the slippery business that is Pakistan's electoral politics.

Nazir, whose catchy ode to cut-price fish has been viewed more than 30 million times on YouTube, is to compose an election song for the country's main opposition party - the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) of Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Nazir, who says his family have a long-running connection to the PML-N, has said he is working on tunes to help get former Prime Minister Sharif elected in the May 11 poll.

“I have almost prepared an election song on Nawaz Sharif highlighting his contributions to Pakistan,” Nazir told AFP.

“I will present the video of this song to him very soon and it will be up to him how to use it.”

Mr Nazir was propelled to stardom last year after his employer on a market stall in east London instructed him to use a trader's call to attract customers. He composed the memorable lyrics:

"Come on ladies, come on ladies, one pound fish."

"Come and have a look. One pound fish. One pound fish. Very, very cheap. Come and have a look. Fish to the one pound, six for five pound."

"Come on ladies, try the fish. One pound each. One pound each."

The original YouTube video of him singing the song has attracted over 11 million views to date.

A subsequent music video to accompany the song was released last December and features Bollywood-style dancers and former television weatherman Michael Fish - it alone has been viewed 22 million times. The song has since also been covered by Alesha Dixon.

Mr Nazir was given a hero's welcome on his return to Pakistan when his visa ran out at the end of last year.

Despite supporting the PML-N, who many tip to win in the upcoming polls, Mr Nazir says he has no plans to enter politics as a candidate.

“I like PML-N and Nawaz’s agenda and definitely I have interest in politics but at the moment, I am focusing on my music and singing,” he said.