After Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar landed Neo TV in trouble for hurling profanities at Marvi Sirmed on live television, it seems that things have not changed at all. Recently, Maulvi Hisham Elahi Zaheer ended up doing the same.
The politico-religious leader not got abusive towards journalist Marvi Sirmed in an interview on Neo TV, but also accused her of being a ‘Murtad’ (deserter of Islam, an act punishable in Shari’ah law)
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Maulvi Hisham Elahi Zaheer then steered the conversation to the Zainab case of child abuse and murder, and claimed that liberals oppose capital punishment.
“Remember the ‘Zainab Alert Bill’ when we demanded public hangings, I say even if a Maulvi commits a crime in a mosque he should be publicly hanged. But women like this will be the first to oppose this saying ‘there is no capital punishment in Islam. Islam is a strict religion‘. They are just enemies of Maulvis and Islam. This group (liberals) have been the most vocal against capital punishment. They don’t want the death penalty, they don’t want rapist of little girls to be given the death sentence”
Marvi responded to the politico-religious leader stating that ‘these maulvis say such things to avoid punishment since their own fellow maulvis are the culprits‘. She also said that there’s no truth to his claim that liberals oppose capital punishment.
Marvi retaliated with;
“The beard on his face doesn’t mean he own religion or he’s been appointed in God’s place so that he can go around accusing people. Detestful man, is who uses Islam’s name in a frenzy after people’s blood and lives.”
During his outburst, the Maulana asked that Marvi Sirmed’s mic be switched off so he can speak. When Marvi Sirmed was asked by the host Farid Raees to be mindful of her language, she retorted by saying that why that rule didn’t apply to the Maulvi Hisham Elahi Zaheer just seconds ago.
She even threatened to take the politico-religious leader to court over his allegations that she obtained foreign funding.
“What bigger blasphemy is there than making false accusations. He’s a blasphemer and has blasphemed Islam, there should be a lawsuit against him.”
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As we’ve seen during the KRQ fiasco the blame falls on the news channel and television host legally. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) can only reprimand Neo TV and Farid Raees.
What television channels can control is their guest line-up. They can be mindful to select guests that will respect one another and remain civil even in the heat of the moment.
