Mati heading for Waqt News

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 10 June 2012

Matiullah Jan, known for his show Apna Gareban, is reportedly moving to Waqt News after his time at DawnNews. His new role may involve a similar program format.
Summary

ISLAMABAD: DawnNews journalist Matiullah Jan of Apna Gareban fame could soon bid adieu to his organization and join Waqt News TV.

Those close to Mati tell JournalismPakistan.com the ground work for his arrival at the channel has been done and all he now has to do is to sign the contract.

At Waqt News, Mati is likely to a host a program similar to Apna Gareban that many believe triggered his downfall at DawnNews.

The hugely popular program exposed the wrongdoings by journalists but it ran into problems and had to be taken off air.

The format of Mati’s program which he will be hosting on Waqt News could not be known.

Mati is among four journalists at DawnNews Islamabad who were likely to be sacked with the management planning to bring in a new team from Samaa TV to replace them.

However, as of today, the four journalists that also include Editor North Mubashir Zaidi, reporters Azaz Syed and Abdul Shakoor Khan have not been officially told to leave.

Some circles believe the DawnNews management that at one point appeared all set to sack the four employees, has opted to go easy on the issue for now.

Meanwhile, it is being said that Azaz Syed is weighing his options but is unlikely to join Waqt News, the channel from where he had joined DawnNews.

Earlier this month Waqt News signed up Fereeha Idrees, who hosted the program News Beat on Samaa TV. There are reports that Dr Shahid Masood may also be taken on board.