Released on Sunday, the track quickly trended on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, with listeners praising its melody, restrained production and Haider’s instantly recognisable vocals, which many described as retaining the emotional clarity that once defined 1990s Pakistani pop music.
“Hello Doston , Ijazat song is here for you , We tried to give you the best sound , me and my Team would be glad if you like this effort ,” the singer wrote on the social media platform.
The music video, shot and produced in Houston, Texas, reflects Haider’s current base in the United States, where he has lived for several years. Fans also applauded the video’s visuals, performances and overall polish, calling it a thoughtfully executed return rather than a nostalgic retread.
The release follows Haider’s recent reflections on why he stepped away from Pakistan and the music industry. In an appearance on a podcast, the singer had said last year that growing security threats and extortion demands after 2010 made life increasingly unsafe for his family.
He revealed that his father was forced to shut down a printing business due to intimidation, while Haider himself began receiving threatening calls, prompting a period of deep emotional strain and a turn towards spiritual pursuits, including reciting Hamd, Naat and other religious poetry.
Haider had said that his mother ultimately urged him to leave the country for his safety around 2013-2014, after which he travelled to the United States on a concert visa.
With ‘Ijazat’, he now cautiously re-enters music, reconnecting with audiences at home and abroad.