In a very shocking development a young 32 year old person, father of four kids looses his life during the filming of a reality show sponsored by Unilever and being produced by their advertising agency Mindshare. Saad Khan was a game show contestant and the host/model Amina Sheikh, who also is the model of Clear Shampoo, gave an underwater challenge to Saad and during the execution of the stunt he apparently lost control, struggled and pleading for help could not recover, the inadequate safety personal and the equipment could not react in time and eventually he drowned
Saad Khan, 32 year old young man from Karachi and a father of four kids is sadly the victim, his body was returned to Karachi for burial two days back and the infuriated family has been running from pillar to post but it seems for some awkward reason it fails to catch the media attention and apparently no media house is ready to ‘run the story‘. It is a known fact that the media in Pakistan is usually head over heals on every other lame ass political slander, but surprisingly in Saad’s case this case of gross neglect is not worthy of even a short news item. Might this have anything to do with the influence of Unilever and Mindshare who are giant spenders armed with enormous advertisement budgets.
Initially Saad’s family was furious hoping to have Unilever cough up full responsibility, but at the moment they feel that the most important thing to look forward to is the future of Saad’s four kids who have no future.
Aarpix: These details are given by a 2nd cousin of Saad on the condition of anonymity. Saad was 31, 6′2″, handsome man was employed at RBS (formerly ABN AMRO). Saad live a very ambitious and thrilled life. In his professional life, he had accomplished more than his age. He had well established career and didn’t participate for the prize money or anything. He was rather very thrilling and adventurous. He was disqualified from the show after a few days but was then called by the death on a wild card entry.
He did not lose his balance in the water – he was an excellent swimmer but the doctors in Thailand after carrying out an autopsy told that his muscle had pulled and he had some weight tied up to his feet as part of the challenge and so could not make it back up. He was under water for about 6 minutes.
Saad has left a widow and 4 kids: Oldest one is 7 years old, then twins of age 5.5 and then the youngest who is only 1.5 years of age.
While this story is slowly making its way around, it seems that some serious counter efforts were made against Farhan Janjua of Aarpix, who first broke the story, WebHostingPad suddenly issued Aarpix a short notice disabling his website for “nature of content” [do have a look at Aarpix and see if you find any objectionable material] they then told Farhan to quickly move his data with immediate effect or else they will delete his content [4 years of hard work] – panicking the poor chap found a local friend willing to help him, but as soon as the DNS prorogation started ‘someone’ called Farhan’s friend and asked questions about Aarpix and if they can possibly ‘have the owners cell phone number’ worrying for the safety of his friends Farhan resolved to buy a sever internationally and used their support services to help salvage the at-risk data. As I write this post at 2am Aarpix is slowly coming back online.
I strongly believe these scare tactics must be condemned, Unilever/Mindshare should be held accountable for this accident and must be forced to offer compensation to the grieved family with immediate effect. I do not mean merely doling out a paltry 1 lac rupees to the affected family but stress a far more expensive compensation to widow and the four kids who now have a life to live without the primary bread earner and literally no husband or father to look after them. May Allah give them the courage and patience to recover from this tragic incident
UPDATE: Just noticed that Dawn.com is also playing some mischief in this incident as well, the above Obituatry message was published in Sunday’s edition of Dawn, 23rd August, 2009. If you scroll to page 14 Karachi Metropolian section within the online archive hosted at epaper.dawn.com you do see this image in small print, but clicking on Saad Khan’s Obituary, and it comes with an error “The Article image is missing”, might this be an accidental mistake, possible but aint it too coincidental?
UPDATE 2: The missing image from the epaper edition of Dawn.com has been fixed, one of their adminstrators personally called me up to inform me that it was a site-wide problem for that particular day, and the website administrators are fixing it with immediate effect, he has reassured me that there was no foul play. It was an Obituary ad and does not come under the editorial control of Dawn, even if they wanted to
Comments
363 responses to “Saad Khan looses life in Unilever / Mindshare Reality Show accident”
@Salman Asghar:
Yes the following statement has been issued by the company:
Unilever Pakistan accepts no liability for Khan's death, Aslam said, but added that the company is in discussions to provide for Khan's wife and four children "out of rightness."
its so sad to know that we lost one of our own. i knew saad khan myself as he use to come to the same gym as i he was a great person so down to earth n friendly i looked up to him as my elder bro…its such an irreparable lose and i feel so sad n sorry for his family who r going through such immense pain at the moment may ALLAH bless his soul. Its completely our media's fault the media of our country is ruining us from all four corners if Pakistan is destroyed at some point all the credit would go to our media always misusing people and misleading them as well always showing negative stuff on the channels and specially i would like to mention that this so called reality shows are inspired from india n thanks to our local host waqar zaka who started this shit in our country by the name of living on the edge. even in his show there was no sense of responsibility and no recovery team n who he use to make the contestants take the oath that anything done by them or any lose occurs they are responsible for it themselves i mean what the hell are u indirectly inviting people to die LIVE ON THE TV… what the crap man just for the sake of getting famous n having money these media personals and media channels go to any height they don't care for any1 …i say we should close down all the bloody channels of Pakistan they all lie that we show the truth now why aren't they putting up saad's story he lost his life due to some stupid reality show and his family is still in pain and our media channels are busy making money…where is their truth now they all r hypocrites.
An absolute shameful act by these tycoons , The loss cannot be recover but atleast can be given compensation which anyway wont fullfill the loss. Electronic media is very strong and we should spread it aloud so every one knows wats happening, No need to depend on Media TV or Newspaper .
@Dania I am the family member.
i just wanted to let everyone know that this dreadful tragedy is floating round the world thats why i pasted that link.
I got the same question as you do. Why the freaks are so reluctant to show the vdo tapes. What are they trying to hide?
@asma bilal. I hope B.S.S can arrange the scholarship for the kids. That will surely help. You are amoung the teachers over there, please do whatever you can for the kids future.
@Adeel: Monthly donations does not look very logical. I mean after a few months, the story will get cold and everyone will forget about Saad and his family. I think a trust account should be established now when everyone is emotional and ready to help.
@ TO ALL..
Trust account or BSS digree couldnot be the limits…
I believe that the person who dies never have any problem.. but the survivors or dependent had a tough time to pass on…
So I must say that weather UNI LEVER coughs or not… they must compensate with the family of Mr Saad's. with no limititations at least for their children education, family Health protection & a monthly salary for other operational expenses.. At least it should be bared by UNI-LEVER…
I won't say that UNI LEVER is fully responsible for all this.. but still he should realize that the reality show was for their own publicity..
Mercy..
M. Bilal Tajwani
Very sad!!!!
Is there any real footage of the incident available?
@ Anees
Please Visit
http://pakistaniat.com/2009/08/31/pakistan-corpor…
teabreak.pk/saad-khan-killed-in-unilever-s-clear…/24836/ –
http://pkonweb.com/2009/08/24/saad-unilever/
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/rea…
"What i fail to understand is how come a corporate entity which is managed by "people" can walk away from their responsibilties. What everyone of us should realise is that a human being has lost his life.
Need help from any lawyer , who is part of this discussion to put up a case against both the corporate entity and let us jointly raise complaint and case to Chief Justice of Pakistan for his involvement.
I am boycotting unilever now… Shame for such a company.
I think we need to put a rational approach together here; while not using their products can be someones personal choice and they have every right not to, how ever the big picture is not in that point.
Its okay to use their products while at the same time demanding the removal from offices all the people who were involved in this episode. I don't know what and why is it taking so long to fire the teams involved? These should be publicly fired with names announced in public dailies along with compensating the family of the deceased. Only this way the issue would be settled, until they don't take to task the people who were involved and we all don't get to see that, this agitation is going to remain in the cycle. This is the only way Unilever is going to brush their image by showing that 'company is good and who were bad and were creating a bad image have been shown the door – we have no place for irresponsible people working for Unilever'.
They tried to hide this and thought that not going into extensive-media (paper, tv) would settle the issue, but it has actually turned totally opposite for them, all the teenagers, adults going till the guy who owns a dhaaba nearby is now saying that Lever Brothers killed a guy. The news is out and about from Khyber to Karachi. They underestimated the power of alternative media. There are so many groups working on the internet that if combined they can screw-up the image of Unilever for really good, I'm like really really good. Unilever is yet to taste the online journalism impact. 70% of the Clear Men Shampoo market uses internet. Rest Unilever is intelligent enough to figure out that what can go wrong if measures are not taken.
They say that in order to cover 1 lie you need to speak 100 lies. Just imagine the figure that you need to cover 100 lies. Unilever is taking the top down approach to cover this issue. Where they should have started from inside the organization, down up and then provide press releases that look people involved ave been fired. They went up-down. They only task thing that you start at the top is of digging a hole, and indeed they dug one pretty well.
Oh my god . thsi is just crazy people think they can buy everything with money . This program should be banned and also for the Minimum compensation that Unilver and Mindshare should pay is 2.5 Crore and 1 Crore respectively (0.75 crore each for the 4 kids and 0.5 crore for the widow)…besides taking up full responsibility of complete and quality education of all four kids + monthly expenses + gifts and trips at festivals and vacations…
the other sponsors taht were involved in the show should also pay the same amount to teh decwease famly.
If unilever does this, ppl will have restored faith in the company and its products….
kia faaida aisay shows ka jo kisi kee jaan lai lain .
I've been following the developments in the mainstream media and also on the online media.A series of dead issues had been brought to life by some rogue elements and the mainstream media (read GEO cuz everyone else simply follows the lead) have been simply trying to hyper-escalate those issues even while the two main parties are trying to re conciliate.Its apparent from the incendiary questions that the anchor persons asks from the parties' spokesmen as to what their motives are, as a consequence escalating the rift. This might have something to do with the fact that GEO is protecting the Corporation by way of imparting mindlessness to keep people riveted to who said what and who met who and who did what.Utterly useless details that we all could do without. Especially since the online vigilantes reaction has been so vociferous, the Corporate-Media alliance is fighting a credibility battle which if they win will mean that the masses ,who are not online, wouldn't ever get the wind of the incident, and as a consequence there wouldn't be a natural progress towards accountability of those responsible for the young man's death.But if this online movement can coerce the Media-Corporation alliance to publicly spell out the details of the accident,accept responsibility for gore negligence and hence apologize for this gross misconduct, and offer lifetime support for the wife and children of the departed soul,only than would this movement would have reached its logical conclusion.
I’ve been following the developments in the mainstream media and also on the online media.A series of dead issues had been brought to life by some rogue elements and the mainstream media (read GEO cuz everyone else simply follows the lead) have been simply trying to hyper-escalate those issues even while the two main parties are trying to re conciliate.Its apparent from the incendiary questions that the anchor persons asks from the parties’ spokesmen as to what their motives are, as a consequence escalating the rift. This might have something to do with the fact that GEO is protecting the Corporation by way of imparting mindlessness to keep people riveted to who said what and who met who and who did what.Utterly useless details that we all could do without. Especially since the online vigilantes reaction has been so vociferous, the Corporate-Media alliance is fighting a credibility battle which if they win will mean that the masses ,who are not online, wouldn’t ever get the wind of the incident, and as a consequence there wouldn’t be a natural progress towards accountability of those responsible for the young man’s death.But if this online movement can coerce the Media-Corporation alliance to publicly spell out the details of the accident,accept responsibility for gore negligence and hence apologize for this gross misconduct, and offer lifetime support for the wife and children of the departed soul,only than would this movement would have reached its logical conclusion.
@Ahmed Ali Usuf:
How do you recommend we jointly raise a complaint to the Chief Justice of Pakistan?
@Ahmed Ali Usuf:
How do you recommend to jointly raise a complaint to the Chief Justice of Pakistan?
it was accident which leaves sorrow to their family. Have you ever seen thousand of poor families of PAKISTAN suffered because of negligence. Thousand head of family has died just because because they dont have basic facilities. The accident was a real tragedy and we should all condemn but pleaseeee such think of other side of Pakistan where the families dont have even food or shelter.This particular family will be look after by many but there are no one who who lookafter poors accept ALLAH.
Allah may solve the tragic situation of the family. Ameen
Inna lillah.. so so depressing news.. May Allah bless his soul.. Amen
SHAME TO THE PAKISTANI TV CHANNELS (GEO,AAJ,EXPRESS,ARY ETC) THAT IGNORED ON PURPOSES THIS NEWS !!!
THEY DO BROADCAST ALL TIME 24X7 NONSENSE FILTHY POLITICAL MESS OF ILLETERATE AND CORRUPT PAKISTAN POLITICIANS.
ACTUALLY THEY ARE DESTABILISING PAKISTAN BY PORTRAITING IT A MALICIOUS COUNTRY AND EVERYBODY IS CORRUPT AND TERRORIST IN THIS COUNTRY.
GEO is funded by CIA. Its not a myth. Its all too apparent when you switch on your television.Keep an eye on what they report and what they don't report and think WHY? Because just like any enterprise it has an agenda, but unfortunately in this case the agenda is simply not profit-making rather it is to shape up politics here by giving people selective information.
http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/geo-tv-c…
He was a great friend of mine, I am still striving to believe that he is gone. I remember when i first met him in the players gym in islamabad. he was well manners and kind. It was around 1994-95. I chatted with him when he was staying at the hotel…we joked and laughed. He used to called me Guru…I will always be there for his children.
Allah may bestow his blessings on his soul and enables Anji to bear this loss.
Our take on Pakistan's traditional media on this issue.
http://paksatire.com/2009/09/02/media-role-unilev…
As pasted by Mr. Raheem Khan above, the below link is a must read for all:
http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/geo-tv-c…
Very sad!! This has been highlighted via emails and other means of communication but, we have to play our respective roles and have to spread the message as far as we can. Unilever, a big name.. associated with this? and trying its level best to conceal the details..disgusting!!
They will never say a word on this cause the death accident involves a media channel itself in a manner. By showing any thing related will simply hurt their precious, fruitful and strong relations with giants like Unilever.
Yes the media is itself corrupt when it comes to themselves – In this society, we dont find a person / institution that can today play the role of QURTABA KA QAZI
so bad on the part of Media!!!
they will never miss any this on the filthy politics and when it comes to such issues, they dont even say any thing!!
After all why would they say…. coz half of the media sponsors are unilever products!!
I suggest someone reports this incident on CNN ireport, BBC and VOA.
Picture of the lake in bankok
I google for "lake in Chatuchak Park" where the incident took place, came across the following link (I apologize to all of you the name of the website is a bit wierd, sorry for that)
http://www.masala.com/14465-pakistani-reality-sho…
Looking at the picture raises so many questions again. How can they miss him just like in an open lake when Saad bhai was asking for help and took 30 odd mins for the so-called professional divers to find. Very strange.
At least 10 million rupees should be given to Saad's family by Unilever.
And who will fine Unilever? Who dares?
Can geo ary express sacrifice unilever ads by airing Saad's incidnt? NO
Pakistan & Karachi (having more than 10% of the total country's population), is an important market for Unilevers, i suggest all of us should protest by bouycotting all of Unilevers products, its easy to start with all you have to do is refrain from buying any Unilevers product (the list of all of thier product brands are available on thier websites).
Lets side with the Victim and not the offenders this time for a change..
Boycott Unilever products in Pakistan.
Allama Iqbal
Germany
Boycott Unilever Killers in Germany & Pakistan
___________________________________________________
We are embarking on the course of launching a professional and an energetic campaign for the boycott of all Unilever products in Germany, where we live. We urge our fellow Pakistanis to launch a full boycott of all following products of Unilever in Pakistan :
http://www.Unilever.pk
Surf
Lux soap
Rexona soap
Lifebuoy shampoo
Pond Cream
Rafhan Energile
Rafhan Ice cream
Rafhan Pudding
Rafhan Jelly
Rafhan cooking oil
etc. etc. etc.
The detail of all products of Murderous & Killer Unilevers can be seen on their above mentioned website.
We are starting our campaign from Germany and we will extend it to all European countries within the next few weeks.
Unilever Killers in Pakistan can be contacted at this email address :
Unilever.Raabta@unilever.com
http://www.Unilever.pk/resource/contactus.aspx — Online message
Allama Iqbal
Germany
http://www.BoycottIndia.wordpress.com
–
Boycott_Unilever_Killers@yahoo.com
.
.
Thats really bad…people who dont noe da real story pkease do not comment on da one side of the story… In da honour of saad; pray for him….we dont need comments we need dua's.
I knew Saad personally & can tell anyone who wants to know what his mindframe was & why he did what he did.
I spoke to him the night before he returned to the show. He had been in a hotel secretly, he told me only the shows producers knew he was still in Thailand.He was very excited to have a chance to return. Please those of you that dont know him, dont raise blame to him, He deserves better, Yes, he was adventurous & there was $ involved, but to know him was to understand him fully I have had the pleasure of this. I also have the emails & a few phone messages & MANY pics of him as well for anyone who wants to read them. I also have many stories about him & myself.
He was a great friend & a beautiful soul. I pray his family will be taken care of the rest of their lives. It is what Saadi would want most, Not all this hate & anger, as he would say to me.. I can almost hear in the distance…
"You know my Jaan, all this nonsense wont change a damn thing, it just sucks"… wow.. I miss him…
& i can be found at:
overthemoon3400@yahoo.com
unless you are a whore, why would you want to share such level of personal information?
@Lisa Singh – what are you upto. Please keep your personal feelings to yourself. If you are a true freind of Saad atleast try to respect him, if not than Allah will take care of you one day.
I just understand where these discussions are heading too. This is no joke, We are here for a cause. A cause that will bring some help for his kids and his family and peace to Saad's soul.
Please remember him in your dua's.
I HAVE EMAILED YOU BOTH PRIVATELY. YOU DONT KNOW ME, SO WATCH YOUR COMMENTS.
& YES, THIS CAUSE IS TO FIND HELP & COMPENSATION FOR HIS FAMILY & ALSO TO KEEP HIS NAME GOOD, HE WAS NOT A SELFISH OR CARELESS MAN & IM SICK OF PEOPLE THAT DID NOT KNOW HIM SAYING HE WAS STUPID FOR DOING THIS SHOW. EVERYONE TRIES TO BETTER THEMSELF & THEIR SITUATION.
& HE WAS A GREAT CLOSE FRIEND. I DID NOT IMPLY ANYTHING ELSE HERE.
@Lisa: Sorry for being outspoken. It was a general comment staring with 'unless' so I thought one would figure out that, not necessarily pointing towards you.
Apology accepted. & I'm guessing you have read your email..
I am from the USA & maybe my words or tone were not the norm for some people in other countries, But my intentions were good. I DONT want anyone to bash Saad for doing the show!
He did NOT have a selfish bone in his body & he had a pure heart.
He was a great FRIEND with a wonderful humor & i was offering to share a few funny stories & jokes from him.. nothing else.
He is missed very much by myself & my daughter Tara
May he rest in peace.. he deserves it & may God bring comfort to all of us who knew & loved him & hold his family in this horrific time.
Unfortunately my this email id is only for group subscriptions and can't receive any other emails. But I take your word for it, I don't need to look at that material. Rest assured, I'm Pro-Saad not anti! Thanks.
your most welcome.
God be with you.
It is a big tragedy. People will forget it soon and responsible will flourish. It is the family to bear the loss for years to come. After all this we and the company should do something to ease the loss and and check for reoccurance.
Words and words and words! Here we have a blog where people are expressing their feelings in the fanciest vocabulary that they know, but is anything actually being done!? Is anyone DOING anything!? Is anything being done for those kids of his!? Where are Lever employees!? Aren't they humans!? Dont you guys have kids!? I ask lever employees to raise their voice, raise their voice for humanity! Please!
Its plain and simple…lever employees need to raise their voice to create the wave from within! Theres tons of people on the outside who want to do sumthing if only it is triggered from the inside!
OK now..what are you guys doing after all this time? are we only good for blogging? whats happening in the real world. whats the progress in this matter?.