LAHORE – TV personality Esshal Adnan has come forward with serious allegations against senior journalist and show host Aftab Iqbal, claiming she faced harassment shortly after joining his program on Express TV.
In a recent podcast, Esshal Adnan detailed her experience, saying she was removed from the show just three days after being hired as a co-host. She alleged that her dismissal came after she rejected Aftab Iqbal’s “inappropriate demands,” which she described as deeply unprofessional and distressing.
Esshal shared that before joining the program, her presence was widely promoted with banners and teasers. However, her excitement quickly turned into dismay. On the third day of her job, she said Aftab Iqbal allegedly behaved inappropriately, prompting her to confront him directly.
“I told him respectfully that I admire his work but this behavior was unacceptable,” Esshal recalled. According to her, Aftab Iqbal reacted angrily and threatened to remove her from the program and block her from appearing on television.
True to his word, Esshal Adnan said she was soon removed from the co-host position, despite several witnesses being present during the incident. Following the episode, she reported the matter to the channel’s Human Resources department. She claimed that the channel’s owner acknowledged Aftab Iqbal’s business influence but promised she would not face further consequences.
Despite the emotional toll, Esshal maintained that she has moved forward and believes that Aftab Iqbal has changed. “He is a father to four daughters and one son and seems to have learned from his mistakes,” she said.
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Her revelations have reignited debate over workplace harassment in Pakistan’s media industry. The allegations against Aftab Iqbal add to previous controversies involving other female colleagues, further highlighting the urgent need for stricter accountability within television networks.
