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Termination notice: Park vigilante TV host Maya Khan gets the axe
Samaa TV management says the host refused to apologise unconditionally.
TV host Maya Khan. PHOTO:FILE
LAHORE/KARACHI:
After an intense online campaign, Samaa TV has fired morning show host and self-styled vigilante Maya Khan along with her team, and has said that her show will be taken off air.
The decision comes after a controversial episode of the morning show, where Maya was seen conducting a ‘raid’ on a public park in Karachi and harassing couples about whether their parents were aware of their whereabouts, even going so far as to take the liberty to question their marital status. Maya reluctantly confirmed that her show has been taken off air. She was adamant in blaming ‘a vicious media campaign by rival groups’ for the fiasco. She added that those campaigning against her had wanted her to be removed and “this is exactly what has happened”.
Maya stressed how no-one had highlighted the ‘good things’ she had done on her show.
She confirmed the authenticity of a letter by the Samaa TV management and her sacking. Independent sources also confirmed that Maya has been fired along with the production team of the show.
The letter, which was reportedly sent out by the management, states that Maya had refused to apologise ‘unconditionally’. It also adds that official termination notices will be sent to her on Monday morning.
The letter, reportedly signed by CEO Zafar Siddiqui, states that “as a responsible corporate citizen, Samaa TV did what was required under the circumstances”. It added that the CEO himself had asked her to apologise unconditionally on Friday, which she refused to do, after which it was decided that termination notices would be issued.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2012.
Reader Comments (22)
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What she did was wrong, but sacking her is even more wrong! She did apologize , we live in extremes. if maya khan and her moral briagade let us down, then saama tv management too have let us down! Shame!
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No other channel should hire her. In the meanwhile, the lawsuits against her shall continue. Only then will she realize that she ain’t worth a spare penny.
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What If Peace TV hires her?
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Th..th..th..th…that’s all folks!
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Maya Khan still think this is ‘a vicious media campaign by rival groups’, honeslty she would never learn! I never ever saw her show and got to know about her public park chasing from the articles etc written in blogs and opinions specially on ET and I was disgusted to say the least.
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she deserves worse.
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there should be a criminal case against her for threatening and harrassing people. This has adverse psychological effect on people who are already harrassed by everyone, from Police to many Fatwa issuing members of the public.
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@Amjad:
Hah. Don’t give them any ideas. Might turn out even worse.
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Good to get rid of her! She deserves it!
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Hire Aamir Liaqaut Hussain in place of Maya.
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Although someone losing their job is nothing to rejoice about, I can only say Samaa TV did the right thing. The example Maya was setting was a very dangerous one and if no action had been taken, or if she had been let off with just a slap on the wrist, it would have encouraged more such vigilantism (the ratings gain would have outweighed any small punishment). The message the Samaa TV management had to send had to be a loud and clear one, which they have done. In more advanced countries they would have been facing a lawsuit for millions of rupees in damages. Matter closed now.
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She got what she deserves.
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No the TV station did the right thing because they responded to public outrage. This sends a clear signal to the next TV or media person to behave responsibly or face the axe. Only then will the media learn that they too have responsibilities.
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Very happy to hear this news. Have been waiting to see her get fired. Good job Samaa.
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Samaa TV, go look for Nadia Khan.
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Samaas decision is quiet a delayed one. The public park show was only one of her invasions on privacy of quiet a dozen of innocent citizens who suffered defamation and harassment in her hands and those of an uncontrolled and hyperactive media.
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maya always did good things and in this episode she also tried to show the society that whts is going on in these parks, shamful acts
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Why fire her? After all channel’s top suits must have approved it first. Its not like she did it all on her own.
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I think its a non-issue.
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Its a non issue.
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Most of us living in the world are hypocrite as well as having double standards of judging the cases.As a spectator we enjoy, jubilant and clap but when we are ourselves victim of any wrong doing and caught red handed we cry wolf.In this case the society should decide itself. Is this a gentle way to wander with somebody’s daughter in the dark corners without any justification of a generally accepted relation ?.I think Maya khan is right if we see the positive side of the aspect and she is wrong if we see the negative side of the aspect.People of life upright are the best judge to decide weather she did a great job or she did a mistake.
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chanal is also responsible
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Only Allah Almighty knows her intentions. No comments.
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