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Anchorperson Dr Moeed Pirzada arrested in Abu Dhabi

Dawn.com | Mateen Haider Published August 7, 2015
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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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rj
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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KM
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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KM
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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LS
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.
Recommend 0
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?
Recommend 0
Usher
Aug 09, 2015 08:24pm
@zafar.usa This tells us never think about cheating.
Recommend 0
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
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
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.
Recommend 0
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....
Recommend 0
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
Recommend 0

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