Pakistan, Aug. 24 -- By the time Ali Zafar reached Sacramento's Cal Expo for a Pakistan Independence Day show on August 15 that drew more than 20,000, the

biggest crowd in that event's history - the pattern was already familiar: fans holding up hand-drawn portraits, teenagers singing beside grandparents, signs written in English and Urdu.

One night earlier, Houston had honored him as a cultural ambassador before a sold-out, 4,000-plus crowd at Arena Theatre. Across the tour's eight North American stops, the Pakistani singer and

actor has drawn something closer to a reunion than a concert.

The tour, staged in support of his new album "Roshni" - Urdu for "light" moved through Mississauga, Toronto, Calgary, Los Angeles, San Jose and Dall...