Mubashar had plans to join Samaa

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 June 2012

Mubashar Lucqman had intended to leave Dunya TV for Samaa but was denied after his off-air discussions leaked online. The footage revealed a pre-planned interview with Malik Riaz.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Disgraced anchor Mubashar Lucqman was to quit Dunya TV and join Samaa but the plan was wrecked after his off-air conversation on a special program last week was leaked and went viral on the Internet. Following that explosive footage also featuring his colleague Meher Bukhari and their guest on the show, property magnate Malik Riaz, the Samaa management plainly refused to have him on board. The clips showed the interview with Malik of Bahria Town fame was a set-up as Meher admits herself during the conversation that took place before the program and during commercial breaks. Samaa is currently in the process of hiring new staff after a group of at least eight staff members quit last month. They are all headed for DawnNews. (This is the corrected story. It was mistakenly reported in the earlier version that Mubashar Lucqman was to join Waqt News – Ed)

KEY POINTS:

• Mubashar Lucqman planned to join Samaa TV.
• Leaked footage of off-air conversation caused uproar.
• Samaa management rejected his joining after the leak.
• Meher Bukhari admitted the interview was scripted.
• Samaa is recruiting new staff amid recent departures.