This is unheard of. In fact, in a manner of speaking, it is quite disturbing. The other day an actor (who occasionally hosts TV programmes) by the name of Ali Salman was on a morning show anchored by Nida Yasir. He was accompanied by actress Marina Khan as a co-guest. During the usual time-consuming question-answer session, Nida Yasir asked Ali Salman about Sahir Lodhi’s hosting skills, to which he replied that Sahir Lodhi was a modern-day Zia Mohyeddin.

We do not know how Zia M would be feeling about it, but it is downright uncalled for comparing someone as learned and erudite as Zia Saheb to Sahir L whose claim to fame is prancing like Bollywood actors in front of the camera to whip up a certain kind of atmosphere. Sahir may have what’s required for contemporary anchors, it is confounding what Ali Salman saw in him to lump him with Zia Mohyeddin. Please people, respect!