It’s been a tough month for Aftab Iqbal. After actor and comedian Sohail Ahmed publicly criticised Iqbal for the way he allegedly treats his team, another famous name has accused the television host of high-handed behaviour.
On April 24, Lahore-based journalist Ambreen Fatima revealed a shocking story by asking T.V. host and comedian Shafaat Ali whether Aftab Iqbal had locked him in a room to force him into signing a contract to appear on his program.
Ambreen Fatima wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Is it true that Aftab Iqbal locked you in a room in Express office, and the condition to get out of the room was that you signed a contract to work with him even though you didn’t want to do it, then your life was spared with the intervention of a big journalist?”
Shafaat Ali confirmed the event and said that it took place in 2016.
The Current reached out to Ali to seek details about the incident. Ali recounted, “It was November 2016 and he [Aftab Iqbal] wanted me to sign on for his show but I had already appeared on four shows with him. I sent him a text that I would not be appearing anymore and would decide later if I wanted to.”
Ali told The Current that he didn’t feel like doing more shows because “Punjabi language wasn’t my forte back then,” and that previous shows were “sort of pro bono”.
He also recounted how his mother was apprehensive about him working with Aftab Iqbal because of the way he talked to him [Shafaat Ali] and how “he looked down upon everyone else”.
“My mother said that Beta, it’s your career, your choice but I don’t get any good vibes from this,” Ali recalled. Until then, according to Ali, he had not signed any contract with Iqbal or the network Iqbal was working for.
Ali said that when he informed Iqbal’s team of his decision, he received a call from the producer of the show to attend a farewell party that night.
When Ali reached the office, “Aftab Iqbal joined and started telling me that I can’t leave the show because he has bigger plans with the show and he was going to make a movie,” Ali recalled. “He told me he was going to make a movie. I said well, best of luck but I can’t sign up. He asked why, I said because I can’t.”
Ali recounted that when he refused Iqbal’s offer he was furious probably because “no one had ever said NO to him.”
Aftab Iqbal asked his associate producer to bring a contract and asked him to sign it. According to Ali, they locked him in a room and it was a “pretty awful” experience for him.
Ali called up senior journalist Saleem Safi from the room to get his help and it worked. “I think it worked and the room opened. I came out shook his hand and took off.”
Ali says that after his harrowing experience, Iqbal has done a few shows against him as well.
Aftab Iqbal’s version
The Current reached out to Aftab Iqbal to ask about his version of the story.
Aftab Iqbal said he did not lock Shafaat Ali in a room and it would be “ridiculous” to claim such a thing.
He said that there were two rooms at the Express News office beside the reception and “it is incomprehensible to even suggest that one could lock a person there.”
According to Aftab, Ali had “problems with his salary package and told us that he cannot do any more shows even though we had an agreement.”
He said he remembers when Ali said, “My mother told me that it is a verbal agreement and nothing has been written so I want to leave.”
He recounted that “this was shocking to hear because as soon as Shafaat brought up his mother then I said the matter is concluded.”
When asked about how Saleem Safi came in between the matter, Aftab said “Saleem Safi called me and inquired about the event.”
“I asked Saleem Safi if Geo is trying to take him away because you are calling me,” said Iqbal.
When The Current asked Iqbal about the purpose of Saleem’s call, he recounted that “Safi said that Shafaat called me and said Aftab bhai is pressurising him to sign a contract.”
When asked about the agreement whether it was a verbal or a written agreement, Aftab confirmed that it was indeed a verbal agreement and ‘it holds the same importance’.
Saleem Safi’s version
The Current reached out to senior journalist and talk show host Saleem Safi to ask him about the entire incident. However, upon inquiry, Saleem Safi said he could not recount the details of the above-mentioned event at all.
