Anchorperson Dr Moeed Pirzada arrested in Abu Dhabi

Dawn.com Mateen Haider Published August 7, 2015

KARACHI: Renowned TV anchorperson and analyst Dr Moeed Pirzada has been arrested by authorities in Abu Dhabi, DawnNews reported on Friday.

Pirzada's father is critically ill and the television personality had gone to the UAE to spend time with him, reported DawnNews.

Pirzada had also tweeted about his ailing father earlier today, saying he was going abroad to spend time with his father, who he said was "critically ill."

According to unconfirmed reports, Pirzada has been charged with forging documents.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office confirmed the arrest of Moeed Pirzada by UAE authorities in Abu Dhabi.

"Moeed was arrested on August 4, he did speak to Pakistani Embassy before his arrest," FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah told DawnNews.

The spokesman, however, declined to give details about the nature of charges levelled against Pirzada by UAE authorities.

He said the embassy is in touch with UAE government and Moeed as well. “We are extending every possible cooperation to him,” he said.

Also read: Saudi Arabia denies consular access to Zaid Hamid

Moeed Pirzada is currently working as a lead anchor with Waqt News and is a columnist for The Nation. His Facebook page introduces him as a known media and political commentator who has worked with GEO, ARY, Dunya News and PTV in different roles.

Pakistan

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Meethi Methai

Aug 07, 2015 07:17pm

He seems to be a decent guy, surprised at his arrest

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Morad786

Aug 07, 2015 07:19pm

Hope it's just a mistake!

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Syed Ahmed, Canada

Aug 07, 2015 07:27pm

Renowned TV anchorperson and analyst Dr Moeed Pirzada has been arrested in Abu Dhabi on charges of forging documents. Can the authorities there so irresponsible?

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Safdar

Aug 07, 2015 07:28pm

A Columbia graduate, many people look up to him so I hope this allegation of fraud is untrue...

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raza

Aug 07, 2015 07:30pm

One of the more sensible people on media today. Hope it's just a misunderstanding and he gets cleared

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Zuhaib

Aug 07, 2015 07:31pm

Expect to receive worst treatment when you land in that shitty place with green passport..!!

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Dilectus

Aug 07, 2015 07:32pm

His arguments are always logical and he is one of the very few educated anchors around. Hopefully he is alright.

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theusual

Aug 07, 2015 07:33pm

Whenever I read news about some upper-middle or upper class person (with respect to annual income) from Pakistan, wht do they always have homes abroad and not in Pakistan.

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abc

Aug 07, 2015 07:36pm

First in Saudi Arabia and then UAE, True face of our brethren countries

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ali

Aug 07, 2015 07:41pm

why don't we arrest all uae residents who are involved in illegal hunting in our country

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Shahid Malik

Aug 07, 2015 07:42pm

@Zuhaib Why do you blame the green passport, do you expect the other countries to overlook your fault because of your green passport?

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Sense

Aug 07, 2015 07:43pm

He was against involvement in Yemen.....cooked up charges as any

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Analyst

Aug 07, 2015 07:43pm

Hope its a mistake and nothing serious. But then again a Pakistani breaking the law; sounds too familiar I'm afraid and nothing surprising there.

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WaheedNoor

Aug 07, 2015 07:43pm

How come many important Pakistanis have relatives abroad who are 'critically ill' and they want to visit them? Same people always bring up their own ill health as an excuse for not attending courts, why?

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Khan kan

Aug 07, 2015 07:44pm

Is Pakistan such a bad place that any one who has money has to live in U.A.E ?

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Blue Saffron

Aug 07, 2015 07:44pm

Pakistan government needs to let our displeasure known to all arab countries that such treatment will be reciprocated.

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Aug 07, 2015 07:44pm

Pakistan is treated as the feudal state in another country , they must have to sought after the cue for their serious loss of reputation !!

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Alien

Aug 07, 2015 07:45pm

I am not sure if it was political motivated.......but hope he will be ok...InshAllah

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Gaurav Arya

Aug 07, 2015 07:48pm

He is a good and logical person who speaks responsibly. It must be a mistake.

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suren

Aug 07, 2015 07:50pm

He should have admitted his father in India. At least, Indians would not have behave like this. Your concept of brother country surprises me. When you people will analyzed things rationally without using religious framework. First, Zaid Hamid, now Dr Pirzada. Dr. Pirzada is a sensible man. Love from India.

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aleem

Aug 07, 2015 07:55pm

@theusual They have houses in Pakistan and overseas, thus they are upper middle class or upper class.

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shary

Aug 07, 2015 07:56pm

he used to be a decent guy, before he started supporting PTI..

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Jacob

Aug 07, 2015 07:58pm

There is no reason for him to forge documents. It must be just a mistake by UAE authorities.

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khurram qadir

Aug 07, 2015 08:02pm

this is the new trend and result of their statements that they will make paksitan suffer, they will arrest the best amongst us when Pakistani citizens visit their countries. fist zaid hamid and now moiz peerzada , this should not be tolerated, next they will be arresting every third person.

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Salim Khan

Aug 07, 2015 08:04pm

Our image abroad has taken such a beating that,even the most decent Pakistani is arrested? Is it a pay-back time for our refusal to support Saudi led sunni coalition in Yemen?

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Bairooni Haath

Aug 07, 2015 08:04pm

This can't be good. I hope they don't lash him.

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Aurora

Aug 07, 2015 08:04pm

Saw few programmes on Youtube conductrd by him.Logical one. If his views or comments were against UAE's during Yemen conflict (remember UAE minister's wsrning to Pak)) than ...it will definitely test the waight Pakistan carries in MiddleEast.

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habib

Aug 07, 2015 08:04pm

he is decent guy, hope its mistake....

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haris

Aug 07, 2015 08:05pm

@Khan kan and @WAHEEDNOOR: What is wrong if someone's family member is living outside Pakistan? Don't you have any relative or direct family member living abroad? Did Dr. Pirzada's father looted the country and went abroad with the money? Pathetic and narrow-minded mindset has been deeply prevailed among the people of my country. So is the case here. I literally don't understand how judgmental we are when we talk about others and how ignorant we are when comes to ourselves?

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Keenobserver

Aug 07, 2015 08:09pm

New trends of Pakistan media person arrested in middleast and tried. Justice or power revenge?

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sana-1

Aug 07, 2015 08:11pm

What's wrong with Saudia Arabia and UAE? I don't think so its because of yemen ....

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Zuhaib

Aug 07, 2015 08:12pm

@Shahid Malik perhaps you understood it the other way, problem is not with the green passport but with the treatment you get on the basis of your skin color in these so called islamic kingdoms..!!

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Zafar

Aug 07, 2015 08:19pm

Dubai harboring all criminals from Pakistan - murderers, looters, and we are told that someone was arrested for forging documents. What a baloney!

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joe

Aug 07, 2015 08:23pm

Being a Pakistani caring pakistan passport please be prepared for all this.

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Muhammad

Aug 07, 2015 08:28pm

This shows that UAE authorities don't care about public status of anyone in Pakistan.Lastly they gave soft warning to AAZ for holding political meeting.

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SULTAN

Aug 07, 2015 08:31pm

it's happened with all country, but pakistan government like silence not happened anywhere in whole world.

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M.Saeed

Aug 07, 2015 08:32pm

He was probably in a desperate hurry to be with his ailing father and some crooked travel agent must have handed him forged travel documents. Otherwise, he is a very respectable and decent man with pleasing manners.

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Alan

Aug 07, 2015 08:34pm

@Blue Saffron Pakistani Politicians do not have the guts to let any displeasure known to their arab masters. Basically Arabs are the de facto masters of your country.

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Saleem USA

Aug 07, 2015 08:37pm

@haris Agree with you.

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Raja Hindustani

Aug 07, 2015 08:38pm

He was another critic of Middle Easter tyrants.

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Saleem USA

Aug 07, 2015 08:40pm

@Jacob Of course it is. What do these illiterate Arabs know about reading.

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Asif

Aug 07, 2015 08:42pm

@Meethi, "Decent guys" like these have put this country in this situation. I also hope that its not true though, but if it is true then I will lost all the hope.

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Toshida hakumaro

Aug 07, 2015 08:50pm

Pak has become enemy of Saudi Arabia uae and other sunni countries for their refusal to help them wrt Yemen crisis . This may be result of this fallout after zaid hamid episode . May be many more to come

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Sahabzada

Aug 07, 2015 08:50pm

First Zaid Hameed and now Moin Pirzada, what's going on? I

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kaushal

Aug 07, 2015 08:50pm

oh no...this shouldn't be done with him... hope he gets back safely asap

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Prashant

Aug 07, 2015 08:53pm

Surprising! I saw many of his shows. He appears a descend person. Don't know why he is arrested!!

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Aami

Aug 07, 2015 09:00pm

another episode of Middle Eastern persecution of journalists talking against Saudia

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Talha

Aug 07, 2015 09:12pm

I hope it is not because we didn't help them in Yemen.

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I. Khan (CAN)

Aug 07, 2015 09:13pm

@suren , Yes brother I agree with you, our parents lived together for centuries and we still care for each other. Indian and Pakistani have lot more respect and feelings for each other compare to the ill treatment we get from most of (Brother ? ) Middle Eastern countries.

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ishaq Khan

Aug 07, 2015 09:13pm

The Truth Prominent TV analyst and talkshow host Moeed Pirzada is in the custody of the Abu Dhabi Police since August 4 on allegations that he was caught on a hospital camera taking the thumbprints of his critically ill father on some documents while the latter is on ventilator. The Pakistani Foreign Office has also confirmed Pirzada’s arrest in connection with alleged forgery. hospital security noticed Pirzada and his sister taking thumbprints of their father on some papers which prompted them to call police. Meanwhile a tweet on Pirzada’s known twitter handle posted earlier in the day says: “My father is critically ill and spending time with him overseas. Keep us in your prayers!”

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Shashank

Aug 07, 2015 09:16pm

One of the few media persons who talks sense in Pakistan. Hope he gets of trouble soon.

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sana-1

Aug 07, 2015 09:17pm

Well if these countries are so keen on persecuting Pakistanis then why not ban them from getting land there, will they? No...

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From USA, S.A.Hyder, Ph.D.

Aug 07, 2015 09:19pm

@Zuhaib It is the skin colour, first and foremost, then passport. These countries are formed upon colour discrimination. A White American or a Westerner is literally worshiped in the Middle East even if he is a scoundrel and a criminal.

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zain

Aug 07, 2015 09:21pm

Most contriubtors of this forum are sensible as often people jump to conclusion and start making false allegation and even pass on judgment before a court trial.

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kilomike1

Aug 07, 2015 09:29pm

one of most balance anchor.Could not understand this ambiguous stand.A person if arrested should be given proper reason to avoid uncertainties.

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Kamil Gani

Aug 07, 2015 09:34pm

I am his first cousin and I am not surprised.

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mushtaq

Aug 07, 2015 09:39pm

there must be some thing illegal which results in his arrest otherwise no one need to worry in UAE. my experience for the past six years reveals that here rule of law is implemented at any cost,one feel safe and sound until he does something fishy.

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Irfan Baloch

Aug 07, 2015 09:47pm

Saudis and their cronies arresting anyone who is criticising them. first Zaid Hamid now him

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Talal777

Aug 07, 2015 09:51pm

According to the authorities he was taking fingerprints impressions on documents relating to transfer of his fathers wealth after death. One of his relative alerted authorities and when they checked the CCTV footage he is seen taking fingerprint impression of his fathers on some documents while his father is in comma.

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M R Khawaja

Aug 07, 2015 09:52pm

Not like Pakistan where being in position of any kind you get away with any and everything. Recently another arrested in Saudi Arabia. Pakistani are supposed to follow the rules like any other foreign national in other countries does not happen in Pakistan. Hope he is telling the truth.

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Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA)

Aug 07, 2015 10:02pm

I've seen clips of this gentleman's TV shows, seems like a reasonable & level headed guy. Very surprised to hear this. It looks like Arab countries are taking a hard line against Pakistan & its citizens after the latter's refusal to send its army to fight in Syria.

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Muhammad Kashif

Aug 07, 2015 10:08pm

Document forgery in UAE punishable by law uptill 10 years.

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Zak

Aug 07, 2015 10:21pm

Not good behaviour with Zahid Hamid in Saudi and moeed in UAE. Forged papers, and a personality like him, not likely.

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Aug 07, 2015 10:58pm

Well UAE minister had warned us earlier. Hope you all remember that threat.

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Khan-Haqiqi

Aug 07, 2015 10:58pm

All these big shots are big only in Pakistan overseas law treats them as normal people

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Pankaj

Aug 07, 2015 10:58pm

@Khan kan you are right khan.

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S. A. M.

Aug 07, 2015 11:01pm

there have been countless cases of mistaken arrests. just because the name of a person is similar to that of an absconder they will arrest the person who hasn't done anything wrong. probably this is what the matter is in this case.

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sana-1

Aug 07, 2015 11:03pm

@Khan kan I'm sure India is not that bad but you know Indians are the second most buyers of properties in UAE....

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AniG

Aug 08, 2015 12:11am

Its sad Dr Moeed Pirzada is arrested, Hope truth prevails.

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Abdul Malik

Aug 08, 2015 01:00am

Moeed Pirzada was seen on CCTV taking thumb prints of his brain dead father in what later turned out to be property documents. The hospital staff called the police. So much for ethics.

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Abdul Malik

Aug 08, 2015 01:03am

@suren Moeed Pirzada was observed by the hospital staff attempting to take the thumbprints of his brain dead father on some documents. The hospital staff called the police. The documents turned out to be property documents which the good doctor was trying to forge.

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Abdul Malik

Aug 08, 2015 01:08am

@Prashant Moeed Pirzada was observed by the hospital staff on the CCTV trying to take his brain dead father's thumb imprints on documents. The staff called the police. Turned out that the good doctor was trying to forge property documents.

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Sam

Aug 08, 2015 01:24am

He is a nice and intelligent man. Pakistan need to support him.

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Aug 08, 2015 01:42am

@Khan kan Ask yourself and you will get the answers.

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zafar.usa

Aug 08, 2015 01:51am

This teaches us either live in your own country as a first class citizen or live in another country as a second class citizen. The choice is yours.

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ali.uk

Aug 08, 2015 01:54am

Now pakistanis need to look at Turkey their new destination rather than make their own country better and be respectful abroad. Our home is ours regardless defects. Ask Palestenians what they feel.

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SHAHZ

Aug 08, 2015 01:54am

Taking thumb prints of an unconscious patient in this situation without permission of hospital admin is asking for trouble.

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Waqas

Aug 08, 2015 02:07am

He was arrested on 4th august and he was tweeting on 7th. Nice.

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Gurpreet Singh Sabharwal (USA)

Aug 08, 2015 03:04am

If I was a Pakistani, I would not be comfortable traveling to Arabic countries. This seems like the "Payback" that many arab countries were talking about.

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Pakistan

Aug 08, 2015 03:19am

@theusual same in india and bangla.

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J.Niaz

Aug 08, 2015 03:37am

He seemed to be one of the more refined anchors. I hope that whatever the cause, the matter is soon cleared up.

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Mohsin Ali

Aug 08, 2015 03:38am

What happened to Zaid Hamid. Is he still in Saudi jail?

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Rohail

Aug 08, 2015 04:35am

It's because of his views on Yamen. Monarchy has to be ended. Let's Promote democracy within Arab world on social media.

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Zahid

Aug 08, 2015 04:35am

Government must be take action why M pirzada arrested? we all Pakistani stand with you

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Arslan

Aug 08, 2015 04:59am

I guess he forgot about the CCTV and forgery laws in UAE when taking thumb impressions. In Pakistan this is easily done. Not in UAE though. If this story is true, he deserves to be punished accordingly as he broke the law.

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petrolhead

Aug 08, 2015 05:03am

Which documents do you need to travel to the UAE except for your passport with a valid visa on it?

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Basharat

Aug 08, 2015 05:03am

It is really a bad news.

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Doc PhD USA

Aug 08, 2015 05:07am

It is ridiculous. truth is people who are educated, knowledgable, and upfront are being targeted and the crooks, illiterate, looters, and thugs are ruling this country for long.

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Brar

Aug 08, 2015 05:11am

@khurram qadir You can not compare Dr.Pirzada with insane Zaid Hamid the self proclaimed defence analyst.

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افغان ميهن

Aug 08, 2015 05:13am

UAE authorities are highly educated with advanced degrees and training from US, which rules out oversight and error on their part.

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Brar

Aug 08, 2015 05:24am

@I. Khan (CAN) My daughter is settled in Oslo Norway and most of their fast friends are Pakistanis and they are always ready to help each other.

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waqar ali khan

Aug 08, 2015 06:37am

Forging documents for what purpose? Citizenship?

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Zarang Khan

Aug 08, 2015 06:46am

He was caught on a hospital camera taking the thumbprints of his critically ill father on some documents while the latter is on ventilator. Reports said that hospital security noticed Pirzada and his sister taking thumbprints of their father on some papers which prompted them to call police.

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M. M Amin

Aug 08, 2015 07:56am

Is it related to Pakistan ,s stance over Yemen.

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ITOLDYOU

Aug 08, 2015 10:32am

@sana-1 Suppose i come to your office and am willing to pay more than your price for selling a particular item, will you say no? And ma'am buying and selling is business and in business you don't mix emotions.

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ITOLDYOU

Aug 08, 2015 10:37am

@ali.uk Palestanians are hard working and with self respect people. Are we?

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p r sharma

Aug 08, 2015 11:41am

@khurram qadir ---- " they will arrest the best amongst us when Pakistani citizens visit their countries.fist zaid hamid and now moiz peerzada , " pleased to know that you and likes assume/ treat Zaid hamid and Dr. Peerzada equal.

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Freda

Aug 08, 2015 11:54am

I truly believe he cannot commit a real crime.

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Chachakirkit

Aug 08, 2015 12:01pm

I don't know why people think that anchors are infallible. Most of the people make comments out of context and without bothering about the details of a news story.

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Freda

Aug 08, 2015 12:09pm

@Talal777 There is no mystery here. His father must have made it perfectly clear to his children, as most parents do, that they will inherit his property. Sadly he went into a coma, and his children were putting his thumb-prints where required . Even otherwise, biological children automatically inherit their parent's property under our Islamic legal system.

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imad

Aug 08, 2015 01:23pm

We can talk day and night about others faults but when it comes to our own reality we forget all the nice talks and morals. How hypocrite are we??

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parveez

Aug 08, 2015 09:42pm

These Arabs clowns have money but no brains. They treat Asian people as dirt and westerns as gods

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Khan

Aug 09, 2015 12:22am

I hope the news isn't true,many people look upto him for logical and True opinions in critical times of politics, it's a displeasing piece of News.

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NYC-man

Aug 09, 2015 03:00am

@Abdul Malik : Brain dead, person in coma, taking finger forints, transfer of property, and still call him decent person, CCTV footage is witness to all this and in STILL in denial mode, wait a minute, some thing wrong with general public, they don't seems to see an evil or wrong doing with this act? Perhaps moral decay had had gone down well below the foundation into the soil itself !

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Farzana

Aug 09, 2015 04:44am

First Zaid Hamid and now Moeed Pirzada. Is it just a coincidence? You can judge it by the complete silence of our government. Our rulers will do any thing to silence their critics. Sadly, our media is not standing up for its own comrade, or the envelope is getting heavier.

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Aug 09, 2015 09:32am

@sana-1 "... properties in UAE" because it is cheaper to buy there than in India. A few days ago a flat in Mumbai was sold for 202 Crores INR.. (or over 322 Crores PKR) With that money one can buy a palace or an Island in there.

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Bupi

Aug 09, 2015 11:23am

It takes one drop of lamen jucice to spoil Milk. He may be Honest but there are many more culprits..?

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Jyoti

Aug 09, 2015 12:25pm

He was forging his father's will and forcefully taking thumb impression on a fake will

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Anon

Aug 09, 2015 12:37pm

@BLUE SAFFRON - How?

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Usher

Aug 09, 2015 08:24pm

@zafar.usa This tells us never think about cheating.

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Usher

Aug 09, 2015 08:36pm

@Doc PhD USA So the whole world is busy in making conspiracies against Pakistan otherwise we are the most ethical nation on planet earth.

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Brar

Aug 10, 2015 06:37am

@Arslan You are right our people often do it i.e. take thumb impression on forged deed after death and people like u and me also sign as a witness.

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javaid dar

Aug 10, 2015 07:30am

@suren

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Sampath

Aug 10, 2015 08:14am

Without waiting to know why the UAE authorities have arrested this anchorman the manjority of the commenters are linking his arrest with his stance on the Yemen conflict. This man supposedly did something illegal in a foreign country. Not all countries are so cheap to take revenge against another country by arresting some "decent" national on a fraudulent basis.

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ITOLDYOU

Aug 10, 2015 10:58am

@NYC-man Bro, you took away my words. Exactly what i wanted to say too. Completely agree with you.

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Hasan Sarwar

Aug 10, 2015 03:13pm

According to Gulf News, he took thumb impressions of his ailing unconscious father in hospital to withdraw huge amount from his father account.

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Hasan Sarwar

Aug 10, 2015 03:16pm

@haris but Moeed Pirzada was trying to withdraw money illegally from his father's account

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citizen

Aug 10, 2015 04:37pm

@Blue Saffron : Good idea...no houbara hunting permits for UAE rulers....

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zubaida Bilal

Aug 10, 2015 05:32pm

Mbbs from Punjab university ,17th in css all over pak.Master and M.phil in international media from clombia university..Among very very few educated and sensible person on media and only one who can do programme on international affairs..Thats why he pays..so bad news..he has additional quality ..He is so cute and handsome

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mustafa

Aug 10, 2015 05:38pm

Dr Peerzada might have done something wrong inadvertently; the rules are very strict here and one cannot get away without full investigation, which takes its own time. I hope and pray Dr Peerzada gets away unscratched, and he is proven innocent

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