Hum TV at the helm of controversies

Baaghi TV (Exclusive): Sultana Siddiqui, owner of Hum TV and other local channels, who has to her credit the charge of ”revolutionizing” Pakistan’s drama industry, finds herself at the center of controversy surrounding shady activities.

According to reports of Baaghi TV, Siddiqui who rose to prominence through her work in the 1970’s is the matriarch of the Hum Network management also consisting of her children and their spouses, Duraid Qureshi and Momina Duraid to name a few. Recently, they have become embroiled in what is largely considered to be a controversy, as claimed by Sultana Siddiqui and Duraid Qureshi, who have been at ‘the helm of the company’ since its inception.

According to reports, the serving management feels threatened by growing concerns of their foreign investors. While talking to TRT World Sultana Siddiqui stated that she is the ‘only woman’ to run a media company in Pakistan who has built her company from the ground up with years of hard work. It has been reported by TRT World that in Pakistan, media groups are known for being controlled by private enterprises yet Hum TV is the only media company to have been listed under the Pakistan Stock Exchange making it a public enterprise.

However, Baaghi TV has managed to uncover that Sultana Siddiqui and her family members responsible for production houses associated with Hum TV, are not new to controversy for their shady activities.

Upon research Baaghi TV correspondents discovered that being the only company recognized with the Stock market, the Hum management solely benefits from its high-priced productions run by very close family members, who either produce or acquire content for HUM TV at exorbitant prices which is the price borne by the other majority shareholders are not happy with the arrangement and they may feel that their rights are being siphoned away by the controlling shareholders namely, Sultana Siddiqui and her son.

Baaghi TV has learnt that in the days to come, Hum TV management will face more problems since those shareholders may want to approach the SECP (Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan) to voice their concerns.

Initially it was Jehangir Siddiqui of JS Bank, JS Global who assisted his sister, Sultana Siddiqui in the formation of the Hum Network, based on industry sources. However, later on the siblings found themselves in an ugly tussle including FIRs registered against family members and legal battles over dispute pertaining to Hum TV. At the time, Sultana Siddiqui had claimed that her brother was interested in taking over the channel while, Jehangir Siddiqui had maintained in the presence of an arbitrator and friends that as the majority shareholder, it was his right to control the management.

Meanwhile, Sultana Siddiqui has to muster all and more to retain management of the channel as some other shareholders are now moving in to take control. Should that happen, then surely her production houses and those owned by close family members will start to dwindle and struggle as well.

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for the latest news and updates!