Singer Ali Haider lashes out at Waqar Zaka for exploiting Aamir Zaki's demise

Waqar had criticised Ali, Hadiqa Kiani and the entire artist community for not being there at Zaki's death

Famous singer Ali Haider rejected TV personality Waqar Zaka's criticism of the artiste community following the death of legendary musician Aamir Zaki.

On Friday night when Zaki passed away, Waqar went to the Edhi morgue located in the Sohrab Goth area of Karachi where his body was kept. “Artists should come and see how Aamir is kept here. This day can also come in our lives,” an angry Waqar said in his live video on Facebook from the morgue, adding that the legendary artist was lying dead all alone with no one to take care of his body.

The reality show host mentioned singers Ali Haider, Hadiqa Kiani and Ahmed Jahanzaib who he said worked with Zaki for various songs but were not there on his death.

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In the wake of the live video, Ali made a video statement in response to Waqar’s criticism and condoled for the sad demise that shocked the entire Pakistani music industry. He said everyone knew what Zaki was going through towards the end of his life.

“Everyone knows that I have been living in the United Staes for over two years now and Hadiqa lives in Lahore. But you [Waqar] were in Karachi. Why couldn’t you do anything for Zaki when we all knew the tough time he was going through?” asked a visibly perturbed Ali.

Ali implored Waqar to abstain from exploiting the demise of the legendary guitarist.

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“If I would want to do something good, I will do it without telling anyone,” he said.

“Everyone knows your reputation. So, stop accusing and blackmailing us and have some brains,” Ali said, adding that he always remembered the reality show anchor in good words and prayed for him.

One of Pakistan’s top guitar virtuosos, Zaki, died due to heart failure on Friday, his family and friends confirmed. He was 49.

According to brother Shahid Zaki, he had been suffering from prolonged illness for quite some time.

Playing guitar since the age of 14, Zaki was best known for a short stint with the Vital Signs in 1994 when he toured globally with the group. He also played with the band on their fourth album before being asked to leave.

He then released his debut solo album Signature in 1995, from which the song Mera Pyaar became a massive hit.

The musician, who made his overdue debut on Coke Studio in 2014, was last seen in action performing at the two-day long I Am Karachi Music Festival. He recently collaborated with Saleem Javed, reworking the singer’s classic Tum Mere Ho.

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