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Yes, I have been on a very long blog break. This blog was intended to keep you guys updated with all the happenings in my life, but forgive me for not being able to do so in the past 2 months. I’ll briefly tell you what all I had been up to during that time.

We started again with our Indian tours in December. It always ends up to be a long trip whenever we visit India, usually goes up to a month in length. We came back in January, and then I got busy putting together things for the launch of my café, which was a little over the second week of February. It might seem an easy task, but trust me; it’s a full time job. It’s much harder, and requires much more commitment than I initially thought it would require. I'm a very laid back and easy going person, but I've had to change that attitude for this! lol.

Right after the launch, the pen pistol episode happened, and two days after that, we left for India again. It’s always wonderful to be in that country. The love and response that we receive from that side of the border is just beyond words. Feels just like home. After spending a month there, we came back, and I got extremely busy with Café Rock again. There’s A LOT of behind-the-scene work which I wasn’t aware of when I decided to jump into this project! May God help me. Lol. But MashAllah, by the grace of Allah, everything’s going really well. A lot better than I expected.

Good news for all Jal fans: We have started serious work for the third album. You’ll find it very interesting, and will hopefully like it.

We’re again in India. Performed at Bangalore after a long time a few days back, and we enjoyed thoroughly. Performing in Gwalior next, and then Bhopal.

Also, I have decided to maintain the ‘Farhan Saeed Butt’ page on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Farhan-Saeed-Butt/55405412213?v=wall, to have a better interaction with you. I’m trying my best to reply, as a comment, to each significant post that you guys put up there. Another reason for doing this is that, I would be making my Facebook profile private. Everyone deserves and has a right to privacy, and they deserve to share personal comments, plans, photos and thoughts with their close friends and family. That is the reason why I would be doing so, because my friends and family also deserve my input, and I would love to interact one to one with them. This, in NO way, means that I disregard my fans. I LOVE my fans, and I’m really grateful to each one of you for extending your support and love to me. Means a lot to me. Through this fan page, I would be able to better communicate with you guys (and I promise to respond to significant posts and questions). I hope you understand and support my decision.

God bless you all, and please pray that the Pakistani cricket team is again able to make the country proud at the T-20 world cup!

AND, i met Jagjit Singh a few days back. I've always been a huge fan of his. Sitting in front of him and listening to him sing my all time favorites songs sung by him live was an amazing experience. Will upload pictures from it.

disappointed.

As you would know by now, i'm NOT arrested. A fan had gifted me a pen at our concert day before yesterday, which remained with me. On arriving at the airport, the pen was found to actually have been a pen pistol (google it), but without bullets. We respect and trust our fans because of which we accept their gifts. We could never have imagined what a 'fan' might have had in mind. We are very disappointed.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoChYEVF2TPCJG8hLMs27FBA_jO3qBZrRWwe29xTxoNvzO_VmbB6MOOV375Lv9j53lCmEGGk0AuvweL9MMQv9xV2OqAALr0-ziVp3IA6CyWkgoMIMeN_KHmVOB3BCT8ngq90PDbHvZsxR/s400/american+derringer+model+2+pen+pistol+cal+22.jpg)

(http://bwfirearms.com/GunPics/pengun.JPG)

(http://blogs.kansascity.com/photos/uncategorized/9762214771_1.jpg)

Opening of Cafe Rock

Hello everybody. So finally, here is the good news you guys had been waiting for: Cafe Rock is opening on the 17th of this month! It is located near Hussain Chowk in Gulberg. I won't write more about it. Come and see for yourself to find out what it's all about! :)

Cafe Rock

I'm really sorry for not being update for a very long time. I've been really caught up with a lot of things. We've been on a very hectic schedule lately. Currently, we're in India for a couple of shows. Apart from that, I've been busy with a project (yes, it's the one I mentioned before). I'll tell you more about it later.

I'll write more and will try to answer your questions once I'm back in Lahore. Take care, everyone!

Visitng India.

Hey everybody. I'm really sorry for the really delayed update. I'm really caught up with a couple of things, which you'll get to know of soon. Pray that everything goes well and the project is a success.

Okay, for all of you Indian fans out there who have been asking about Jal's visit to India: We're coming to your country VERY soon. By 'very soon', I mean day after tomorrow :) We'll be performing near Delhi on the 1st of November.

Thank you so much for all your comments. and Emily, its an honor to know that somebody from Philippines also supports us. And about twilight, lol, a friend of mine gave me the movie's DVD some time back, BUT I haven't watched it. I don't know if I even plan to do that in the near future. haha.

I'll try my best to answer all your questions as soon as I can. Thank you all for writing in.

Keep praying for us! and more importantly, for Pakistan. We're going through a really rough phase.

Stay safe.

Answers.

Hey there.

Thank you, everybody, for appreciating, praising and liking the video of ‘Ye mera Pakistan’. What is more overwhelming is the fact that Indians are also appreciating the video. Thank you, once again! :)

As you all would know, after last night’s semi final that we lost to New Zealand, Pakistan is out of the running for the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. BUT that doesn’t mean we’re disappointed in our team. They put in a lot of effort, and were almost there, even though New Zealand was playing with 13 players (two umpires included ;) ). The margin with which our opponent team won wasn’t big, which proves the fact that we put up a tough fight. Team Pakistan, we’re with you! Wish you all the luck for the next tournament.

Now coming to your comments and questions:

First of all, I’d like to answer your question, Sarah: Yes, I read ALL the comments that you guys post. In fact, I jot your questions down so that I don’t skip them and am able to answer most of them, if not all.

The second important thing: a lot of you have asked about Goher’s father. By the Grace of God, He has been doing fine. Keep praying for him. I will surely extend your wishes to him.

About the video of Humain itna pyar: Keep a look out for it. You’ll get a little surprise very soon.

Anum, there is no such problem about the charges and our attitudes, apart from misunderstandings. In fact, we’re in talks with your school for a concert soon. So it’s all a misconception.

Shii, regarding what your Pakistani peers have to say to you about your listening to Pakistani music: It’s actually sad. They shouldn’t be saying such things. In fact, they should be proud of the fact that people of other nationalities and backgrounds appreciate and listen to musicians from their country. The music that all of us make is not just for Pakistani nationals, or in that way, restricted for Indians. No. Same goes for Indian music. Music does not have boundaries or limits. It’s for anyone and everyone who can feel or relate to it. And I totally agree: There shouldn’t be any hard feelings between Pakistanis and Indians. We are two nations, SO similar to each other. We should do our best to over come our differences.

Deeksha, regarding the rumors that you have stated: They are “rumors” because they are rumors. Until and unless you’ve heard them directly from me, I don’t think it would be wise of you to believe them :)

Fatima, I haven’t really been listening to Persian music. However, there is this individual from Terhan whom I’ve happened to come across on the internet. Her name is DJ Maryam, and in my opinion, she defiantly is very talented. But it’s sad how the Iranian government has issues with her, along with all other females, doing music. I wouldn’t want to further comment on that. But all I’d like to say it that, talent should not be suppressed. And Fatima, I will definitely give a listen to Kaveh Yaghmaei.

Sonakshi, it’s really sweet of you to have such plans. It’s an honor for us. :) And yes, I support your thoughts. I’ve mentioned the same thing earlier in this post. India and Pakistan should remain on friendly terms.

Thanks a lot for all the belated birthday wishes, means a lot :)

I think this is enough for this blog entry. I hope I have answered 90% of your questions! And again, like I write in every post, THANK YOU, everybody, for all your love and support!

Ye mera Pakistan

Hey everybody!

Sorry for the delayed update. I was caught up with a little something, which, as a matter of fact, you guys will be seeing on your television screens from today. We did a re-do of our song ‘Ye mera Pakistan’ for the ICC Champions trophy 2009. You’ll find the new version a little more upbeat and pumped up, while you’ll find the video interesting in its own way for two reasons; we’re wearing the Pakistani cricket team’s uniform shirts and it has clips from the winning moments of the T20 cricket series which our national team own. Watching those clips gets you into this wonderful feeling of victory and brings to you a sense of national pride and patriotism.

Let me now tell you a little about the song and the video. We did this song a little over a week back. We recorded at Farhan Albert’s studio (who is Salman Albert's brother). We had a great time. Thanks guys! and by the way, we finished recording the song on my birthday.

Now about the video: I hadn’t slept the previous night because a few of my very close friends (we’ve been friends since my school days) were over at my place and they left after sehri ( we were playing poker :) i love that game!) . I got a call from MAQ (manager) around the same time, saying that we were shooting at 6am. That left me with only an hour to rest. Anyway, the shoot was fun. We all tried to put in all of our energy into it, and I hope that shows in the video. But oh boy, you can’t imagine how hot it was. When I got home, I really felt the pain of a poor old baked chicken that had been thrown into the oven lol. But over all, it was a very good experience. I hope you guys like the song/video. Do send in your feedback.

And yes, lets all pray for our cricket team so that they do well and come back home with the Champions Trophy and make us proud yet again! Our nation needs the moral boost.

I had a wonderful Eid. Started the day with going for Eid prayers, of course. I visited my grandmother on the way back. Spent time with my parents and went over to meet family. Had lots of delicious food (the best part of eid, haha). But sadly, I didn’t get much eidi, lol. I guess I’ve grown up a little too much for that.

It feels good to see that we have fans in Russia and Iran, and in such remote areas as the Rubwah village in Punjab. Thank you, all of you, for all your support :) .. Marra bisyar khushi maysha kay shumara music ey band ey ma khushim mayaey. (Persian). I hope the persian didn't have too many errors!

I’d like to take this opportunity to Thank and appreciate all those who made an effort to make my birthday special. I’d like to mention this girl, Saba Iftikhar, who made a sketch of me. I’m sure she put in a lot of time and energy to make it. Thank you, saba.

All the people who want to know when we’re visiting India: guys, to be really honest, after the Mumbai attacks, it has actually become pretty hard for a Pakistani artist to go to that side of the border to perform for an audience. Security issues, etc. But gradually, its becoming a little better. We’ve been getting calls for shows in India, and we’re actually in talks with a few people at the moment. We might just be visiting in the near future, so do keep a look out!

About your question, elle, regarding the Atif Aslam related video: As you can make out, it’s dubbed. It was nothing but a negative propaganda. But the band spoke with Atif about it. So it has all been cleared out with him and settled. You guys might not know this, but Atif and us are on pretty good terms.

Again I’d like to say, I can’t thank you guys enough for all the love and support you guys give to us, and also for the priceless and precious prays and wishes you extend to us. Thank you SO much.

I’d be updating next in a week or so. It feels good knowing that I have a way of communicating with you guys directly. :)

For all those who have been asking about our third album, we’re currently working on it. You’ll get to hear it early 2010, InshAllah.

Take care everybody, and stay safe!

(This picture is from my birthday. A lot of you guys asked me to upload something from my birthday, so here it is.)