Outrage as video of anchor abusing press power to harass youngsters goes viral

LAHORE: A video circulating widely on social media has sparked intense public backlash against a Lahore-based female TV anchor, raising serious concerns over media ethics, sensationalism, and the lack of professionalism in local street reporting.

The viral clip shows the reporter approaching a young boy and a girl wearing a hijab who together in a public space. What began as a casual encounter quickly escalated into an aggressive, dramatic confrontation as the reporter began to interrogate, harass, and threaten the youth.

Despite the duo repeatedly explaining that they are cousins, the reporter grew increasingly skeptical and moralizing. When the girl mentioned her family resides in Islamabad and she is currently visiting Lahore, the anchor ramped up her volume, aggressively shouting: "Cousin ho tou phir ghumnay phirnay jatay hain? LIcense mil jata hai bahar ghumnay ka?" (If you are cousins, do you go out wandering together? Do you get a license to hang out together?)

When the young girl calmly tried to reiterate their relationship, the anchor cut her off, screaming, "Behes nahi karo!" (Don’t argue with me!), adopting a disciplinary tone reminiscent of an angry parent rather than a professional journalist.

Throughout the encounter, the reporter severely judged and morally policed the hijab-wearing girl, entirely disregarding that family dynamics and boundaries vary across households. Critics online were quick to point out the hypocrisy of the anchor trying to enforce arbitrary Islamic standards on strangers while not adhering to those specific dress codes herself such as dressing.

The confrontation took an even more dangerous turn when the reporter attempted to involve bystanders. In an effort to escalate the situation, she actively instigated surrounding men to physically assault the young boy, asking them to slap him.

Under Pakistani law, there is absolutely no legislation that prohibits cousins—or any consenting individuals—from sitting together in a public space. Legal experts and media commentators have pointed out that the anchor’s actions not only lacked legal backing but crossed into criminal behavior, including:

• Harassment and Intimidation: Threatening and cornering citizens in a public space.

• Privacy Violations: Recording and broadcasting individuals without their consent.

• Incitement: Urging a crowd to commit physical violence against a young adult.

The clip has triggered a wave of condemnation across social media platforms. Users are calling out the reporter for using intrusive, bullying tactics to manufacture cheap, sensationalist ratings at the expense of citizens' mental well-being and safety.

Many are calling on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and tagging CCD Punjab to take strict action against the anchor for breaching basic journalistic ethics and using the power of the mic to terrorize ordinary people.