Geo presenter Dr. Shaista may flee

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 May 2014

Dr. Shaista Lodhi is contemplating fleeing Pakistan due to death threats following controversial content on her show. Geo TV has issued public apologies and suspended staff.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Dr. Shaista Lodhi, host of Geo Television's morning show Utho Jago Pakistan is said to be considering fleeing the country after reportedly receiving death threats.

According to media reports Friday, she has no intention of putting herself and her family at any risk after content aired on her show Wednesday hurt religious sentiments of Muslims.

Shaista has publicly apologized for the blunder saying any offence was inadvertent and unintentional. Geo TV that also separately apologized has suspended some members of the program's production team.

Reports said that she was planning to be away until the situation calmed down.

There were protests Friday in several cities with the protesters demanding closure of Geo Television which has been under a cloud after accusing the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its chief of masterminding an attack on its presenter Hamid Mir on April 19.

KEY POINTS:

• Dr. Shaista Lodhi received death threats after her show offended religious sentiments.
• She apologized for the content, calling the offense unintentional.
• Geo TV also apologized and suspended certain production team members.
• Protests demanding the closure of Geo TV occurred in multiple cities.
• Lodhi plans to leave until tensions subside.