TV host Ali Saleem Released From Prision

TV host Ali Saleem was granted bail on Friday and released from jail.  Saleem had earlier been arrested after his mother filed a complaint stating that her son had tortured her while he was intoxicated.

Saleem was granted bail but a case has been registered against him under the Hudood Ordinance for being intoxicated.

The host of a popular television talk show landed in police lock up for allegedly beating up his mother while under the influence of alcohol. The host, actor, scriptwriter and impressionist Ali Saleem of Begum Nawazish Ali-fame show, was arrested by the city police from his mother’s residence in Bani Gala on Thursday on her complaint.

Later, his mother withdrew her complaint. However, Saleem was booked for being heavily drunk as his alcohol test was positive, said police.

“He was heavily drunk and had beaten up his mother breaking her nose,” said a police official. “He almost killed her. She survived because he was so drunk that he could not maintain his balance for long,” added another police official.

Till the filing of this report, Saleem was behind the bars in Bhara Kahu Police Station as the police refused his bail plea. “His alcohol tests were positive. We will send him to jail,” said a police official. The court will decide on his bail application, he added.

Police said the possession of a house in Bani Gala was the cause of dispute between Saleem and his mother Farzana. He asked his mother to pay him over Rs13 million for the cost that he had borne on the construction of the house.

Police said the house was registered in the name of his mother. However, Saleem claimed that it was his property. His mother was willing to pay him eight million rupees for the house while he was insisting on Rs5 million more.

According to police, 60-year-old Farazana was living in the house alone while Saleem used to visit her occasionally from Lahore. On Thursday, he had come to see her while he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

After a verbal brawl with her, he started beating her up. One blow of Saleem’s fist broke her nose and she started bleeding. She got a chance to call her brother who arrived along with his family and rescued Farzana. Police was then called on the scene.

An official said that Saleem would be produced before the court for sending him to jail on judicial remand on Friday.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Ali Saleem had asked his mother to pay him over one billion rupees for the house. Ali Saleem asked his mother for over Rs13 million.