Capital TV: The price of breaking news?

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 July 2013

Capital TV faces backlash after breaking a story on corruption in the EOBI, leading to an FIR against the channel. The situation has raised concerns among journalists about press freedom and safety.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the newly launched Capital TV after it broke a story on mega corruption in the EOBI.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had taken suo moto notice of the scandal after the story was aired last month.

According to Capital TV, the police were refusing to hand over a copy of the FIR to the channel’s management. The channel suspects the many wrong doers and influential people in the scandal had a hand in registration of FIR.

It said in its 9:00pm bulletin these people were also pressuring the police not to let Capital TV have the FIR.

However, there is another angle to the story. It is being said reporter Huzaifa Rehman who broke the news was allegedly manhandled and threatened by Captial managers. Reports say an FIR was registered against the channnel on the directives of the Interior Minister.

The Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and National Press Club (NPC), Islamabad have announced holding a protest outside the club on Friday at 5 30 pm over the manhandling of their colleague.

Capital TV, headed by Basit Shaikh had suffered another setback soon after its launch in April after a guest on one of their live shows insulted the Army chief The channel was forced off air.

However, they were allowed to resume programming days later reportedly after high-level negotiations and a written apology submitted by the television management with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).