Pak anchor claims seeing Om Puri’s ‘ghost’
Media watchers in Pakistan have expressed surprise over the reaction in India to the Pakistani programme that showed the ghost of veteran actor Om Puri.
In a video which dates back to January 14, Aamir Liaquat, an anchor with Pakistan's Bol News, claimed that Puri's ghost has been spotted in front of his Mumbai home.
In the CCTV footage aired by Bol TV, a man wearing a white kurta is seen walking which the channel claims is the ghost of Om Puri. The anchor claims Puri's ghost was spotted outside his Mumbai home seeking revenge against Ajit Doval, India's security czar.
Aamir Liaquat is not new to controversial claims and staged drama. His first programme Aalim Online, which ran on Geo TV and featured people calling him up from all over the country to discuss their religious queries came under a cloud when it was revealed that most of the calls were staged. Despite this, Liaquat went on to become Pakistan's top TV anchor and his show was watched by millions.
In one Ramazan game show, he handed out a baby as a prize to a contesting couple sparking howls of protest from human rights activists and groups. In his most recent change of TV channels, he has ended up at the BOL TV network which has strong backing from Pakistan's military. Despite its impressive backing, the channel is suffering from sluggish ratings and Aamir Liaquat is trying his possible best to revive the channel's fortunes.
His programme Aisi Nahi Chalay Ga deals with controversial topics and has fallen foul of the country's broadcast industry regulator - PEMRA - for inciting violence and hatred.
In one show, he accused some journalists of being under CIA or RAW payrolls. In another, he accused detained bloggers of committing blasphemy. “He has been playing these gimmicks only to get ratings for his failed channel,” comments Zarar Khuhro, a leading talk show host.
Khuhro added that the reaction from India “will only delight Aamir Liaquat.”