Termination notice: Park vigilante TV host Maya Khan gets the axe
Samaa TV management says the host refused to apologise unconditionally.
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.
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.