Express Tribune errs, removes story

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 21 May 2015

The Express Tribune removed a story claiming MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar's wife was to be arrested in a vaccine scandal. Dr Ramesh clarified her non-involvement.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Express Tribune has taken down a story from its website wherein it mentioned that Federal Investigation Agency has decided to arrest wife of MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar. The story elaborated that EPI Deputy Program Manager Dr Saveeta would be arrested for her alleged involvement in a $3.9 million pentavalent vaccines scam. A source tells JournalismPakistan.com the story was removed from the Tribune’s website after Dr Ramesh personally approached the paper’s management and clarified that his wife has had no role in the scam. The vaccine scandal emerged before appointment of my wife as deputy programme manager EPI; therefore the Tribune should remove this story from its website and publish a clarification on it as well,” the source quoted Dr Ramesh as saying. The FIA has been conducting an inquiry against the EPI officials for their involvement in loss of pentavalent vaccines worth $3.9 million, donated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

KEY POINTS:

• Express Tribune retracted its article on Dr Ramesh Kumar's wife.
• Claimed she would be arrested over a $3.9 million vaccine scam.
• Dr Ramesh asserted her innocence and requested a retraction.
• FIA is investigating EPI officials linked to the vaccine scandal.
• Vaccine shipment worth $3.9 million was donated by a global alliance.