Amjad Sabri dead: Pakistani singer shot dead in Karachi aged 45

Police have said the attack was 'targeted'

Amjad Sabri performs at Trafo, Budapest, on 21st January, 2012

Amjad Sabri, one of Pakistan's most famous singers, has been shot dead in Karachi.

According to Pakistani media, the 45-year-old died after two gunmen shot at his vehicle in the southern city on Wednesday afternoon. He was critically injured and later died in hospital.

Police have determined the incident was a "targeted killing" but the motive of the assailants is currently unknown. A relative of Sabri's is believed to be injured.

"Two riders used 30-bore pistols to shoot Sabri five times, one bullet in the head took the qawwal's life [...] We have cordoned off the area and will arrest the culprits using all our resources," a police spokesperson told Dawn.

Sabri was one of the country's leading and most sought-after Qawwali musicians. Qawwali music is derived from Sufism which is a mystical branch of Islam which has many followers in Pakistan.

He was the son of the late Ghulam Farid Sabri and nephew of Maqbool Sabri, who led the famous Sabri brothers Sufi band. According to Dawn, "almost whatever the Sabri brothers sang became an instant hit".

Tributes have been paid to Sabri on Twitter, since news of his death emerged.

Additional reporting by agencies.