Waqar Zaka

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Waqar Zaka
NationalityPakistani
OccupationTelevision host
Years active2005–present
Known forLiving on the Edge
Champions
Websitewaqarzaka.net

Waqar Zaka (Urdu: وقار ذکا) is a Pakistani VJ-turned-television host and a cryptocurrency enthusiast.[1][2]

Early life & education

According to Zaka, he is a 2008-09 batch Civil Engineer of NED University of Engineering & Technology.[3]

Zaka started his career with ARY Digital with a TV reality show Living on the Edge.[4][5][6] Waqar then created and hosted reality shows XPOSED,[5] King of Street Magic,[5] Desi Kudiyan and The Cricket Challenge aired on ARY Musik.[7]

Political career

During the 2013 Pakistani general election, Zaka ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan from Constituency NA-235 (Karachi East-I),[8] but was unsuccessful.[4] He received only 31 votes out of the total 211,768 votes cast.[9] He ran on a platform of prioritising and improving access to entertainment and the internet.[10][11]

In April 2019, Zaka announced a political movement in Pakistan called Tehreek-e-Tech.[12][3] In May 2019, he expressed regret to the public for the negative impact on youth caused by his TV reality show "Living on the Edge".[4][13]

Champions with Waqar Zaka

In November 2019, Zaka began hosting a TV reality show, Champions with Waqar Zaka, on BOL Network.[14] In January 2020, the show was banned by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)[14] for being "offensive towards social, religious and cultural values of this country".[15] In April 2020, the Islamabad High Court upheld the decision of PEMRA to ban the show.[16] Following the suspension of Champions, Zaka began hosting a late-night show on YouTube called Headphone Show.[17]

Media career

Waqar Zaka was co-producer of Babylicious which featured Shehroz Sabzwari and Syra Yousuf in lead roles.[18]

In November 2023, Nida Yasir alleged that Zaka had attempted to destroy her career at ARY Digital by sending emails to the channel's management.[19] Zaka dismissed the allegations.[20]

Cryptocurrency scam case

In December 2022, a Karachi court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Zaka in connection with a case involving an Rs 86 million cryptocurrency scam..[21] This came after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) charged Zaka with enticing the public into "dubious" cryptocurrency trading.[22][23] In 2023, the court declared Zaka an absconder for his consistent non-appearance in the case. The court also observed that Zaka “has hidden himself at unknown place due to fear of his arrest and there is no immediate hope of his arrest in near future”.[24]

2018 arrest

In November 2018, following his arrest for alleged sheesha possession, Zaka clarified in a video message that circulating media reports about him being booked for owning alcohol were untrue.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ Wajid, Ali (15 September 2023). "Solo champion: Waqar Zaka wins solo trader round of Bitcoin World Cup". Samaa News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Bitcoin World Cup: Waqar Zaka eyes victory, ranks 3 among 2,500 traders". Samaa News. 13 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Attention seeking Waqar Zaka claims he wants to launch cyrptocurrency to help Pakistan pay off its debts". 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b c ڈیسک, انٹرٹینمنٹ (28 May 2019). "وقار ذکا نوجوانوں کو بھٹکانے والا مواد تیار کرنے پر شرمندہ". Dawn News Television. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Chit chat Meet Waqar Zaka". DAWN.COM. 7 March 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ^ "I am giving Pakistanis a platform to vent their frustrations: Waqar Zaka - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 14 February 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. ^ Hassan, Sameen (4 May 2015). "I am the reason why some people now rule the entertainment industry: Waqar Zaka". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Waqar Zaka says 'Line Pe Ajao' - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 12 February 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Election Commission of Pakistan Notification" (PDF). Election Commission of Pakistan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Waqar Zaka hopes to go from cobra to constituency - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 1 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  11. ^ Ishtiaque, Aqsa. "Main Banoonga Minister: Waqar Zaka strives to contest elections". Aaj News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  12. ^ "We may never see Waqar Zaka on TV again". 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Waqar Zaka seeks apology from nation for destroying young minds". Dunya News. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Waqar Zaka's show 'Champions' to remain suspended, IHC rules - Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Waqar Zaka's Show Champions Gets Banned By PEMRA". Lens. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  16. ^ ڈیسک, ویب (9 April 2020). "قابل اعتراض مواد نشر کرنے پر بول ٹی وی کے پروگرام چیمپیئنز پر پابندی برقرار". Dawn News Television. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Lewd headphone show designed to help audience, insists Waqar Zaka | SAMAA". Samaa TV. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  18. ^ Baig, Amina (15 January 2023). "Here's what we've gathered from the four corners of the world". The News International. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  19. ^ Desk, Entertainment (26 November 2023). "Waqar Zaka tried to sabotage my position: Nida Yasir". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Waqar Zaka claps back at Nida Yasir's allegations". Daily Times. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  21. ^ Sahoutara, Naeem (22 December 2022). "Karachi court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Waqar Zaka in cryptocurrency scam case". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  22. ^ "FIA's final charge sheet accuses Waqar Zaka of luring public into dubious cryptocurrency trade". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  23. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (11 January 2023). "Non-bailable arrest warrants out against Waqar Zaka in Rs86m crypto scam". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  24. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (4 February 2023). "Magistrate declares Waqar Zaka absconder". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Arrested for possession of sheesha not alcohol, Waqar Zaka clarifies". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Waqar Zaka arrested over possessing sheesha, denies consuming alcohol". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

External links

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