ISLAMABAD: The media watchdog on Thursday accused a prominent television preacher of hate speech and banned his hugely popular show, silencing the high-profile host after years of controversy.
Aamir Liaquat Hussain, the charismatic star was criticised in 2013 for giving out babies to childless couples live on prime-time television, had been accused of inciting hate against supporters of five progressive activists who disappeared earlier this month.
He was told his programme on Bol News television had been terminated with immediate effect and that he was prohibited from appearing on the channel in any manner, even in old footage, with the channel warned it would lose its license if it did not comply.
Aamir Liaquat was also prohibited from delivering any hate speech or branding anyone an infidel or a traitor on any other channel, according to the statement from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). It said the decision came after the host had been monitored for several weeks, and that it had received hundreds of complaints about his repeated violations.
Rights activist Jibran Nasir, who has spearheaded some of the demonstrations over the missing bloggers and is among those maligned by Aamir Liaquat, tweeted that a police complaint had also been made. “PEMRA did its job & we should be glad about it but our real job is still left. We can rejoice when the missing come back home. Back to work!” he wrote.
The five bloggers were reported missing from various cities early this month, raising fears of a crackdown. The Human Rights Watch said that their near simultaneous disappearances raised concerns of the government involvement, which officials and intelligence sources have denied.
A virulent social media campaign painting the missing as ‘blasphemers’ has triggered a flood of threats, despite denials from their worried families. The charge, which carries the death penalty, is hugely sensitive in Pakistan, where even unproven, allegations have stirred mob lynching and murder.
Aamir Liaquat, a former lawmaker, is no stranger to controversy. Under former ruler Pervez Musharraf, he was forced to resign as a state minister for religious affairs because of his views on the controversial blasphemy laws. He was also unable to authenticate an alleged degree in Islamic Studies from a college in Spain. Known as doctor, he claims to have a diploma from a medical college in Pakistan.
