Salman Siddiqui's writing archive

I did an expoze on wiretapping in Pakistan for which I had to face some heat back in 2010.  By Salman Siddiqui It’s an irony Benazir Bhutto would have appreciated. Much of the ‘evidence’ that poisoned her voters, brought down her govt and even became the justification for her husband’s conviction was culled from wiretaps. Now again in 2010 wiretaps are being conducted while the PPP’s in govt. Surveillance:  Finding Orwell in Pakistan Karachi: It’s an irony slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would have appreciated. Much of the ‘evidence’ that poisoned her voters, brought down her second government and even became the justification for her husband’s conviction was culled from wiretaps. Fast forward to 2010 and perhaps the most invasive wiretaps by federal intelligence agencies in recorded history are also being conducted while the PPP’s in government. When Benazir challenged the dissolution of her government, the Supreme Court devoted several pages of its judgement to t...

I interviewed WWE professional wrestling star R-Truth in 2013 Doha who explained how despite breaking almost every bone in his body he was willing to go on. R-Truth By Salman Siddiqui Wrestling superstar R-Truth, whose real name is Ronnie Aaron Killings, is not just a professional wrestler who has been a one-time United States Champion and WWE Tag Team Champion. The multi-talented entertainer is also a rapper who is widely known for his over-the-top dancing styles. In an exclusive interview with the Gulf Times, R-Truth revealed his story - one of struggle with injuries in his 17-year-long career and his determination to never give up.  How does R-Truth define himself? “That’s a hard question. Music just lives in me. It’s food for the soul. Wrestling is will (power) man, part of me just got bit by that bug when I first saw it. First, I had a desire to train; to want to do it. Once I learnt (it), that was it. So it’s just a combination of both,” he said. R-Truth, said his fa...

I met the celebrated music composer Yanni in Doha in March 2013 where he spoke about how he picks themes from all parts of the world.   Salman Siddiqui with Yanni By Salman Siddiqui World renowned musician Yanni touched the hearts of thousands of people in Qatar with his mesmerising performance for two consecutive days at the Qatar National Convention Centre. This is the first time the Greek-origin composer has performed in Doha, who is currently on a world tour titled ‘World Without Borders.’  At least 15 other musicians from all over the world are part of his troupe. Today is expected to be his last night in the city, during which he is scheduled to attend a charity event. During his performance on Friday, Yanni was given a resounding reception by the audience. He performed for at least two hours on each day, during which he played material from a number of his albums, including “Keys to Imagination” and “In My Time.” Some fans came all the way from Saudi Arabia to...

I met the critically-acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami at the Museum of Islamic Art in September 2013 who told me Iranians turn to art as a weapon for survival. Kiarostami died in July 2016. Abbas Kiarostami By Salman Siddiqui Despite strict censorship and a regime considered oppressive by the Western world, internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami believes that art and culture is flourishing in his part of the world. The filmmaker is in town as part of an invitation extended by the Doha Film Institute, which is presenting a  programme of Kiarostami’s early works, documentaries and award-winning feature films including Taste of Cherry (1997) and The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) at the Museum of Islamic Art from  September 13 to 21.  In an interview with Gulf Times yesterday, Kiarostami said that “people [in Iran] are all turning to art as a shelter; as a weapon for survival. This is the only choice that they have in order to be able to ...

In the summer of 2011 Pakistan's largest city was a killing field. Dozens of people were being killed based on their ethnicity and supposed political biases. No one wanted to speak the truth about what was really going on behind the scenes for fear of losing their lives or due to losing out on the profit that comes out of the chaos. It was in this environment, I met Karachi's drug mafia don Arshad Pappu, who had been named in about a 100 murder and attempted murder cases at that time. It was one of the biggest risks I took with my life to interview a figure like him who weilded power even from behind prison bars. Pappu would later get killed brutally along with his brother and friend a few years later by a rival gang, which I was told played football with their severed heads.   Arshad Pappu  By Salman Siddiqui KARACHI:  In his Gadani jail cell, Lyari’s legendary kingpin Arshad Pappu seethes over the killings of Baloch in Karachi, especially since there is a percepti...

Salman Siddiqui with Philip Hammond Salman Siddiqui met Philip Hammond on at least three occassions in Doha, Qatar, when the senior British politician was the U.K.'s defense secretary. Following is an excerpt from a roundtable where I had the opportunity to speak with him on a number of issues directly in June 2014. UK and Qatar have agreed that a military intervention in Iraq would not resolve the crisis unless there was a political solution first, UK’s secretary of state for defence told Gulf Times. Secretary of state for defence Philip Hammond made the remarks at a press roundtable held at the British embassy yesterday. He met the media after his meeting with HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah during his one day visit to Doha. He later also met with HE Defence Minister Maj-Gen Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah.  Speaking about his meeting with HE the foreign minister, he said: “We both agree that a military intervention will not be a successful way to reso...

Salman Siddiqui interviewed British artist Damien Hirst in October 2013 in Doha, Qatar, when he was visiting to launch his art exhibition. Following is an excerpt of that interview published by Gulf Times. Damien Hirst is widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful contemporary artists, who has created some of the most seminal works in recent art history. Emerging from the Young British Artist movement that originated in London in the late 1980s, he was part of a group which became renowned for their audacious and often shocking works, receiving international acclaim and succeeding in revitalising the  British art scene. Interestingly, his recent works such as the ‘Miraculous Journey’, a group of 14 bronze sculptures, that was recently unveiled in Doha, are being interpreted in religious terms, and some say it depicted the miracle of birth as explained in the holy books. When asked whether he felt comfortable with such religious interpretations of his artwork, ...