KARACHI: Esshal Adnan, a TV host and journalist, has made serious allegations against veteran journalist and talk show host Aftab Iqbal, accusing him of sexual harassment and later removing her from his program after she rejected his alleged advances.
In a recent interview on the Unfold Pakistan podcast, Esshal detailed the incident, saying she was hired as a co-host for Aftab Iqbal’s show, with her name and image already featured in the promotional materials. However, just three days into her new role, her excitement turned to discomfort when she claimed to have faced sexual harassment from Iqbal.
Esshal said she confronted Iqbal directly, telling him, “I respect you, but this behavior is unacceptable for someone of your seniority.” According to her, he responded angrily, threatening to remove her from the show and block her from future television opportunities.
As she alleged, Iqbal followed through on his threats, taking her off the show in front of several witnesses and leaving her without the role she had been promised.
Esshal reported the incident to the HR department, and the channel’s owner became involved. She claimed that while the owner acknowledged Iqbal’s influential position, he assured her that she would not face retaliation for speaking out.
Despite the ordeal, Esshal expressed that she has moved on, adding that she believes Aftab Iqbal may have learned from his past mistakes. “He’s now a father of four daughters and a son — I think he has learned from his mistakes,” she remarked.
Esshal’s accusations come amid previous controversies surrounding Aftab Iqbal, including reports of misconduct towards female colleagues and allegations of hiding a co-host’s marriage, which have resurfaced in the media.
