Pakistan

Anchor Moeed Pirzada arrested in UAE: FO

Foreign Office spokesperson says reason for arrest could not yet be ascertained

Kamran Yousuf August 07, 2015

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

ISLAMABAD: Television anchor and commentator Moeed Pirzada was arrested in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the Foreign Office said on Friday.

“Moeed Pirzada was arrested in Abu Dhabi on August 4,” a FO spokesperson told The Express Tribune.

“Our embassy in the UAE is in contact with authorities over there and will provide all possible assistance to Pirzada,” the spokesperson added.

However, the spokesperson said the reason for his arrest could not yet be ascertained. Although social networking site, Twitter, was abuzz with claims that Pirzada was arrested for “forging property documents.”

Read: Zaid Hamid arrested in Saudi Arabia

Pirzada’s arrest comes months after Pakistani analyst and commentator Zaid Hamid was arrested in Saudi Arabia. Hamid was arrested during a private visit to the Kingdom with his wife and was apparently taken into custody after making speeches against the Saudi government.

COMMENTS (40)

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply @Dr Priyanka: What is the connection in Pirzada's arrest and India. You people are in habit of crying India India for any thing which happens around the globe

Mohammed Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply It's sad he has been arrested,what he was doing was his right.Gulf people's are funny .Hope he will be released soon inshallah.

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Salim Khan | 8 years ago | Reply He was caught on a hospital camera taking the thumbprints of his critically ill father on some documents while the latter is on ventilator. The Pakistani Foreign Office has also confirmed Pirzada’s arrest in connection with alleged forgery.

joy | 8 years ago | Reply But NADRA says there is no one by the name of Moeed Pirzada on its database and the FO says it has asked UAE to share details of the incident because there is an inernational conspiracy to defame Pakistan and against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor>

Zaheer Khan | 8 years ago | Reply He was arrest for forgery in property documents. He tried get thumb impression of his father while he was sleeping on property document. That is the detail as far we know here. No conspiracy theories.

Petroleum Engineer | 8 years ago | Reply His other face is that of a criminal, he tried to take signatures and thumb prints of his father forcefully in hospital who is on death bed. Thus deceiving his other family members from their due and right share. I salute UAE govt for arresting such double faced criminals, if you live in a country, eat their food, reap all the benefits from the society and if you try to break the law, then criminals like him must pay the price for breaking the law. We all are living and working outside Pakistan, due to lawlessness and rising corruption. We are fed up of injustice in Pakistan and had to leave our dear country, because of criminals being born and protected every second and innocent people being killed or suppressed. Government of Pakistan, Foreign Service and our great Pak Army and most respectable, honourable, daring, loving and caring General Raheel Sharif too, should request to UAE govt for punishing such criminals, so Pakistanis living abroad should not involve themselves in any wrong doings, they must respect and obey the law, especially elite class Pakistanis living here should be punished too, so UAE doesn't becomes a ground for grooming terrorists and remains a land of peace and opportunities, which we Pakistanis consider as our second home.

Aamir - Toronto | 8 years ago | Reply @Dr Priyanka.....what are you smoking nowadays !!!

Aam Admi Bechara | 8 years ago | Reply I remember to watch him taking "interview" of John Kerry US foreign secretary in which Mr. Pirzada broke all historical records of sycophancy and abject self humiliation.

the Skunk | 8 years ago | Reply @Dr Priyanka: Agreed! As it is India is replete with problems. have a nice day.

IKE | 8 years ago | Reply Lets give more hunting permits to the UAE rulers. This is the time to say F word to our friends in UAE. They hate Pakistan.

Ghulaam | 8 years ago | Reply First Zaid Hamid and now him, this is really sad. Patriotic Pakistanis are being arrested. The only hope is General Raheel Shareef.

Jawed Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply It's bizarre, mind-boggling. Still recovering from shock.

Zahid | 8 years ago | Reply Government must be take action why M pirzada arrested there, don't worry Dr. M. Pirzada all Pakistani people stand with you

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply Media men should not go these so called Arab Kingdoms.If you say even a word against them even privately they will get you like Zahid. So let them enjoy on French beaches and do not say a word

Khattak | 8 years ago | Reply Arabs are sending clear signals to the Pak establishment. For too long we have been taking Arab money. When the time came to pay back, we took off. Dr. Peerzada & Zaid Hamid types should avoid travelling to middle east.

cosmo | 8 years ago | Reply This guys started well, but gradually got influenced by the likes of Zaid Hamid and Hamid Gul and started spinning conspiracy theories to grab attention. I think he deserves this punishment.

TukTuk | 8 years ago | Reply @Sania Khan: I happen to know Hadi. What sort of trouble are you talking about?

Abdul Malik | 8 years ago | Reply @kashif: Moeed Pirzada was observed by the hospital staff on the CCTV trying to take his brain dead father's thumb imprints on documents. The staff called the police. Turned out that the good doctor was trying to forge property documents.

Tahir Mehmood | 8 years ago | Reply I am not sure what Pirzada did, I have been watching his TV Shows and looked like a balanced man but you never know.

Bairooni Haath | 8 years ago | Reply @Parvez: The true reason for the arrest is suspect because the Arabs have a history of bullying Pakistanis and Pakistan has a history of being obsequious to the Arabs.

Anonymsus | 8 years ago | Reply Not surprised!

Sania Khan | 8 years ago | Reply I know that Dr. Pirzada's younger brotheer Hadi Pirzada has been in trouble with the law quite often in both Canada and Dubai so I am wondering if this is because of that. Dr. Pirzada should not be held into account for his brother's acts and should be immediately released.

Puppet | 8 years ago | Reply They say he was arrested for forgery. What kind of forgery?

Amir | 8 years ago | Reply My days can't believe people of pakistan again talking about Conspiracy theories. Some saying he got arrested due to his political stance and some saying it's due to his view against Saudi and Yemen war and so on. For god sake people grow up its only due to forge documentation as far as we all know so far. Crime was committed in UAE so he has to face it now. So better keep quite and let the culprit pay the price

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply Why is it that someone who is remotely ' someone ' if arrested causes us to be astonished ............but he is not in Pakistan and in most other countries a crime is swiftly followed by an arrest and then the due process of the law follows.

Malikpur janderbari | 8 years ago | Reply i am strange who comments in favor or this gentlman who was caught when taking fake fingerprints of his ailing/dying father. his father is uncouncious and insttead of taking care of him this greeedy person was taking thumb impression.... shame of such so called scholor and his supporter

roshan | 8 years ago | Reply He was arrested in UAE under forgery on August 4, 2015 when he allegedly tried to get thumb impression of his sick father at a hospital against his consent.

kashif | 8 years ago | Reply Long Live Mr Pirzada! Both Zaid Hamid and Moeed are paying the price for speaking the truth, but this punishment will be short lived while their words will prove immensely consequential to the region and beyond.

Waqar Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply Dr Pirzada is a very decent & respectable person, and he can't indulge in the fraud which has been mentioned the reason for his arrest therefore no one should be arrested without any solid reason . Our Govt., should take a strong stance about this act of UAE Govt., and must help to get the release of Dr Pirzada

prakas | 8 years ago | Reply has he earned so much to buy property in UAE ,I doubt.It is something to do with his views on Arab kingdoms and his secular belief .

Shame on Govt | 8 years ago | Reply Shame on Pakistani Government for not taking a stance for it's citizens. Any country can arrest any Pakistani if they dislike their views. While all the criminals get bailed out in Home land. Shame on PMLN government for being a poodle to rest of world.

Bairooni Haath | 8 years ago | Reply He used to have a decent show in the Sochta Pakistan days. Recently his shows are just peddling the latest conspiracy theories. I guess too much thinking does not make for high ratings.

akki | 8 years ago | Reply @SEAsian: Caste system doesn't hold much water in the Mid-East, contrary to India. hence the coreligionist's arrest.

Rumormonger | 8 years ago | Reply Lets wait for the details. It could just be a cheque bounced due to bad accounting on his part. UAE has very strict laws on that.

mjk | 8 years ago | Reply So it's crackdown on all journos(sane and insane) who dare raise their voice against all that's messed up in your political arena. All those who are refraining from ruffling the feathers can stay at ease, they're safe.

Dr Priyanka | 8 years ago | Reply @SEAsian: we don't need more trouble in India.

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply If he has committed any crime in UAE, its fine then. I hope this is not due to his stance on Pakistan's role in Yemen conflict. The problem with these Arab kingdoms is that almost no information comes out, explaining such acts. When these arabs shaikhs breaks our laws during their hunting trips of PK, we don't do anything to them. Pakistan embassy should provide all support to Moeed, i hope he stays safe.

SEAsian | 8 years ago | Reply Ummah doesn't care too much about Pakistanis it would seem. Mr.Pirzada will be safer in India.

Hasan Tasleem | 8 years ago | Reply And we associate credibility with those who forge property documents

Amir | 8 years ago | Reply He's a brave and educated man, speaks the truth and is very balanced in his views. Not too conservative but not zealotly leftist, so now he's being punished by the greedy Arabo-wahabbis for speaking up for Pakistan's interests. These middle easterners can't tolerate free speech.

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