Renowned Pakistani singer Ali Haider has revealed the difficult decision that led him to leave his homeland. According to Haider, staying in Pakistan had become increasingly unsafe, which ultimately forced him to move abroad.
In a recent appearance on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, Haider opened up about stepping away from the music scene and his personal life. The singer shared how he transitioned from pop music to reciting naats and religious poetry, leading to a significant decrease in his interest in pop songs. Unfortunately, this change in his musical direction led to growing difficulties, including receiving threats.
Haider revealed that his father, who owned a printing press, had to shut down the business due to these threats, and the family was left in a state of constant fear.
“After 2010, my family experienced tragedies that I was dealing with. During that time, some people started following me. There were extortion demands, and religious factors came into play. The situation became so unsafe that I can’t even describe the intensity of it,” he recalled.
The singer shared that his emotional state led him to focus on spiritual pursuits, attending programs where he recited religious poetry, Hamd, Naats and Noha. However, despite his efforts to find peace, the situation continued to worsen.
Haider recalled receiving a dangerous phone call one day, which further heightened his sense of vulnerability, especially since his home was located on a busy road, adding to his fears of being unsafe.
It was then that Haider’s mother intervened, urging him to leave the country for his own safety. “One day, my mother said, ‘If you stay here, it causes me more pain. You need to leave.’ This was around 2013-2014,” Haider explained. Shortly after, he was granted a visa to the United States for a concert, marking the beginning of his journey abroad.
