Winds of change in Samaa as presenter Imran Riaz taken off-air

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 April 2022

Imran Riaz Khan has been taken off the air as Samaa TV alters its editorial direction. The changes come after the dismissal of key personnel and growing anti-government sentiments.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Samaa TV has made a noticeable change in its editorial policy, adopting an anti-government stance after the termination of Director News Farhan Malick and taking prominent presenter Imran Riaz Khan off the air.

Abdul Aleem Khan, a former PTI  leader, bought the channel last summer. He recently criticized Prime Minister Imran Khan in a press conference.

According to several posts viral on social media, anchor Imran Riaz Khan, a vocal supporter of the prime minister, was taken off the air for supporting PTI.

Many PTI supporters expressed solidarity with the anchor, urging the public to boycott the channel in a hashtag campaign on Twitter. Some suggested that the ARY News management replace anchor Waseem Badami with Imran Riaz.

On the other hand, there are reports that the PM Imran Khan-led PTI has started boycotting Samaa TV. However, the ruling party imposed an unannounced ban on its spokespersons from participating in talk shows. However, there is no official word.

Reportedly, PTI is upset following some tough questioning by ‎Samaa anchor Nadeem Malik on the reported foreign conspiracy to change ‎Imran Khan's regime.

The channel owner Aleem Khan recently parted ways with PM Khan and announced support for the Opposition parties during the no-confidence motion amid political turmoil.

KEY POINTS:

• Imran Riaz Khan, a supporter of PTI, has been removed from Samaa TV.
• The channel's owner, Abdul Aleem Khan, has criticized Prime Minister Imran Khan.
• PTI supporters are calling for a boycott of Samaa TV on social media.
• Reports indicate PTI's spokespersons are banned from speaking on the channel.
• The shift in policy follows a controversial questioning by Samaa anchor Nadeem Malik.