Islamabad, Jun 13 (IANS): Mehdi Hassan, the legendary Pakistani ghazal maestro born in India, passed away at a Karachi hospital Wednesday after a prolonged illness. He was 84.

His son Arif told Geo News that his father died of breathing complications at a private nursing home in Karachi.

The ghazal king had been discharged from Agha Khan hospital only last month. He was back in the hospital only a day later but was not put on a ventilator.

My father has been ill for the last 12 years but this year, his condition has deteriorated significantly... in the last one month," said Arif. "He was released from hospital for just one day before being admitted again."

Hassan, who has a huge fan following all over the world, had been suffering from lung, chest and urinary tract ailments for the past many years.

A paralytic stroke almost a decade ago had left the musician helpless and immobile.

Family sources said he was being fed through a tube for the last two years and had lost his voice. His family had appealed for help to revive the doyen of the modern-day ghazal.

In April this year, the legendary ghazal singer had got a visa to come to India for treatment but was too unwell to make the journey. He last came to India in 2000.

Hassan leaves behind nine sons and five daughters. He married twice. Both his wives are dead.