Daily Times

From leaked videos to ‘hate speech’, Amir Liaquat has always managed to stay in the limelight; but never for good reasons though.

The TV anchor rose to ‘fame’ after a video of him using abusive language was leaked. Liaquat was hosting a religious talk show, ‘Aalim Online’, in which scholars from different sects debated and discussed certain topics. During filming, he used scurrilous words to address his staff members and guests. Not even in his wildest dreams would Liaquat have thought that the footage would surface and everything he hid behind the mask of an ‘Aalim’, would reach the public eye. Though he claimed that it was fake and he is an ‘angel’.

Being one of Pakistan’s most popular television personalities, he also hosted a famous game show named ‘Inaam Ghar’. Based on making people do ‘questionable’ things for prizes, like dancing on songs or eating several mangoes till you puke, with the words ‘Aam khayega?’ echoing in Liaquat’s voice, ‘Inaam Ghar’ was one of the most viewed show during its runtime. His vulgar acts and meek attempt at humour somehow successfully wooed the Pakistani audience.

Earlier, on his show Subh-e-Pakistan, Liaquat applauded inflammatory language used by one of his guests towards a religious sect. The guest, Syed Arif Shah Owaisi, had accused the Ahmadi community of being responsible for ‘terrorism’, including the Peshawar attack in this list of allegations. Sadly, the guest, rather than getting a ‘shut up call’, received applaud, even from the host himself.

After doing all of the above, one would think he would stop, but no, he wanted to play ‘Santa Claus’ as well. One of his most ridiculed act was handing out babies to couples, who were not blessed with a child. This is actually a good deed, but his execution was pathetic and so was the motive of TV ratings. He received severe criticism, but some even appreciated his actions; nevertheless, Liaquat’s attempt of gaining more fame was successful.

The anchor was even turned into a meme, with things like ‘Ghalib film dekhi haye aapnay’ or ‘Aam khaye ga?’ written on the pictures. But he never let these things get into his head, viewing them as good publicity.

Liaquat has never failed to get his opinion out there, but his beliefs were not always ‘reasonable’.

In the past week, Liaquat accused five activists, who were abducted earlier this month, of blasphemy. Those calling for the release of the activists were also not safe from the TV host’s accusations as he accused them of supporting blasphemy; calling some out by name while flashing their pictures onscreen.

This might just be the worst thing Liaquat has done ‘so far’, bashing the kidnapped and the people who were calling for their return.

This speech can be termed ‘inhumane’ as regardless of religion, our sense of morality does not even agree to this. Liaquat put the lives of both, the kidnapped and the supporters, at risk by accusing them. Around the world, countless people are killed using this word as an excuse and Liaquat has termed these people as blasphemers.

Reacting to his comments, Pakistan’s media ‘watchdog’, PEMRA, has banned Liaquat’s show from Bol TV, putting an end to his controversies after years.

But, Liaquat, being himself, paid no attention to it and continued with his show. Not even Bol TV silenced the TV ‘star’, ignoring PEMRA’s orders. This act has ignited a war between PEMRA and Liaquat. The TV regulatory has ordered Bol TV to discontinue the show and submit a response of why its orders were not followed and, more importantly, why has Liaquat been allowed to appear on the television after being banned. The TV channel has been directed to submit a response within seven days.

What Liaquat does now is entirely up to him, and considering his track-record, it might just surprise the nation again, but ‘kub tak aisa chalay ga’.