Adnan Sami, the well known singer and musician, has issued his comprehensive statement on social media regarding miserable condition of Artists in Pakistan. Here is his complete statement.

Much reaction has come in towards my statement regarding the sorry plight of Artistes in Pakistan. Well, it's the truth, you know it & I stand by it!
When has the Pakistan government truly honoured their Artistes or given a damn? Truth hurts but it is the reality.. Mehdi Hassan rotted & so did Reshma & these two huge legends a mere example.. The government could have sent them abroad for treatment etc.. Some will argue that the government has far too many other important matters to deal with; however ridiculous that argument maybe in my opinion but lets agree for a moment...But then why do they send 'corrupt' MNAs, MPAs & their families abroad for treatment at their expense who have looted the country & reduced its exchequer to shame but Not these cultural treasures & legends who are the Greatest Ambassadors of Pakistan.. One paper said that "Pakistan government helped Reshma.. She was treated in Shaukat Khanum..." Excuse me, but thats not a Government hospital & besides, what would have been so terrible if she was sent abroad on the governments own airline, PIA? All these government officials use that airline as their personal mode of transport for all kinds of personal purposes.

I have seen the bureaucracy too close to know how things work inside.. Please do not even try to teach me about the workings within the government. I was born in the corridors of power! I know it better than most people. My late father was a Federal Secretary in the bureaucracy amongst many other important positions. He was also federal Secretary of Culture in the 90s so I have seen what goes on there as well! He rooted out corruption of lower officials taking commissions from the poor Artiste's fees in return of their 'favours' of booking them for government sponsored shows! The poor Artistes had no choice but to comply under the fear of being black listed!! Shameful!! This is not to speak of the concocted bills they would create in the name of Artistes just to put into their own pockets!

I also know how the Artistes inside Pakistan complain about how they are being neglected but don't have the guts to speak out..
Recently, the previous Pakistani government announced a laughable sum of Pakistani Rs. 5 Crores to "REVIVE THE PAKISTANI FILM INDUSTRY"!!! Pakistani Rs. 5 Crores will revive a "Film Industry"?? 5 Crore Pak Rupees cannot even make a low budget film let alone revive the "Film Industry"!! To add insult to injury, even that meagre sum has NOT been received by the industry to date!!

I criticise & say the truth & so it becomes unpatriotic!! Wah! So then there's no freedom of speech either!! lol!! If something is wrong than it is wrong.

If they can't accept it than tough! Ask them why every Artiste runs the moment he/she gets an outside opportunity?? The ones who never got an outside opportunity will naturally criticise those who did! They will then explain their staying back with the justification of being 'Patriotic'!! For the record, I know for a fact that 90% of those who scorn at Artistes who went abroad to expand their career themselves tried but unfortunately failed. I stay quiet about criticism unjustifiable attributed to me for living abroad since I don't care about what anyone thinks! It's my personal prerogative where I choose to live & I'm not answerable to anyone. I am an Artiste & my art belongs to the world & not any one entity. My fans are from all countries & I love them back with equal respect. Don't doctors, engineers etc go abroad? Are they also unpatriotic?

Don't make my rightful criticism into yet another Indo-Pak debate because its not. By diverting the reality & issue into an Indo- Pak debate, it does not absolve the government of the gross negligence meted out to the Artistes in Pakistan.

Besides, I never held "Pakistan" responsible for her death but instead I held the "Pakistan GOVERNMENT" responsible.. There's a big difference! Majority of people of Pakistan do not approve of most of the things the Pakistani Government is up-to... This neglect is yet another example.. People of both countries want peace between Indo-pak... Its the Governments that are not delivering the same! Sad!

Don't ever forget that the Artistes are the greatest ambassadors of soft diplomacy for the country's image & they must be respected & taken care of. The love an Artiste can create within a listener or viewer in a few minutes of a performance, a diplomat takes years of endless meetings to create!
That is why ARTISTES have succeeded in creating love in India & Pakistan respectively where both governments have failed!!!

Warm regards,
Adnan Sami