Amer Liaquat: the good doc back to Geo?

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 26 June 2012 | Z B Saigol

Dr. Amer Liaquat may be making a comeback to Geo TV after previously being ousted amid controversy. His return is rumored to be linked to a lucrative salary offer.
Summary

KARACHI: Is Geo TV a glutton for punishment or what? There is a buzz and it’s getting louder with every passing hour. It is possible Geo may be on the verge of hiring the very man who is on record for bad mouthing the news channel and was the original off-camera leaked interview villain just a few months back. Yes folks, Dr Amer Liaquat is apparently priming for a return to the channel where he was once the ‘most pious’ program host with Aalim Online. Geo, it is said has apparently managed to lure him away from ARY for double the salary he was getting before being sacked by Geo. For those of you with short memories, which apparently have become even shorter, Liaquat was exposed for abusive language and callous remarks while prepping for his yet-to-be-recorded program. The leaked video came as a shock for many. For many others it did not. “He was a hypocrite then and he is still a hypocrite, admittedly a well off one,” an analyst friend of mine noted wryly when I called to ask him if it was true his good friend Liaquat was returning to Geo. “This means we are going to see an even more extravagant wardrobe for this strutting peacock,” he concluded in disgust. Liaquat enjoyed a fruitful 12 years as host and expert on Islamic affairs with Aalim Online, receiving dozens of phone calls and hundreds of emails and mail daily. It was expected the disgust one felt when he was exposed for what he really was would ensure Liaquat would be unable to face a camera again if he had any shame and honor. But the power of money and the devil, also known as one’s ego, had other plans for this preacher who does not practice what he preaches. ARY hired him!! In a blog he explained why he had quit Geo earlier. “I had 12 years of association with my previous organization (Geo) and to leave that long association was also painful for me. The times in your life come when you have to take certain tough decisions which breaks your heart but at the same time these steps have to be taken because the codes and principles are far more important than any materialistic thing in the world. And this is what happened this time, either I had to follow my codes and principles and to quit the organization or I had to compromise them and remain in the organization…..money and big name fail to tempt me therefore I have moved on.” (http://a.com.pk/tag/aamir-liaquat-hussain-website/) I leave you to look and learn from this man who obviously knows how to make people dance to his tune. Not quite sure whether he uses hypnotism or has some how induced mass amnesia, but even I have to admit if he is going back to Geo, he’s quite the ultimate comeback kid! (Z B Saigol is a guest writer) *The views expressed by the writer do not necessarily reflect the views of JournalismPakistan.com