Pakistan's television wars have plumbed new depths in the battle for Ramadan ratings with the country's most controversial presenter giving away abandoned babies on his prime-time show.
Aamir Liaquat Hussain has presented two babies to childless couples so far during Islam's holy month. His show's heady mix of charity, piety and kitsch has made it a hit with viewers but also attracted accusations that he is using religion to generate headlines.
In an episode broadcast last week, Hussain shocked the studio audience by promising the gift of a baby. He then introduced a shell-shocked couple who were handed the child by the head of a charity that rescues abandoned babies. The tearful wife described the child as a "gift of Ramadan" before her husband described their frustration at not being able to have children.
"These 14 years were full of hardships, people asked to go for second marriage but I remained patient and also asked my wife to be patient," he said. The spectacle was repeated for a second time this week. The babies were presented by Muhammad Ramzan Chhipa, who runs the Chhipa Welfare Association.
"We have lots of babies that are just abandoned, left in the garbage or other dirty places," he said.
