TV show hands out babies in Ramadan ratings battle
ISLAMABAD— Pakistan’s television wars have plumbed new depths in the battle for Ramadan ratings with the country’s most controversial presenter giving away abandoned babies on his prime-time show.
Aamir Liaquat Hussain has presented two babies to childless couples so far during Islam’s holy month.
His show has made it a hit with viewers but also attracted accusations that he is using religion to generate headlines.
In an episode broadcast last week, Hussain shocked the studio audience by promising the gift of a baby.
“This is the beautiful girl who was thrown on a pile of garbage by somebody. See how beautiful and innocent she is,” he said.
He then introduced a shellshocked couple who were handed the child by the head of a charity that rescues abandoned babies. The tearful wife described the child as a “gift of Ramadan.”
The spectacle was repeated for a second time this week.
The babies were presented by Muhammad Ramzan Chhipa, who runs the Chhipa Welfare Association.
“We have lots of babies that are just abandoned, left in the garbage or other dirty places,” he said. “Often we just find the bodies so our message that we make is to tell people to bring their babies to us, don’t just leave them.”
He declined to discuss how the couples were vetted but said they had previously approached his organization to adopt children.
Pakistan’s raucous talk shows have huge followings. The battle for viewers is most intense during Ramadan. Last year, a rival show featured an exorcism.