ISLAMABAD, July 18: The owners of a private TV channel were booked by the Shalimar police on the charge of detaining and assaulting a reporter after he complained about non-payment of his salary.

The police said the case was registered on the direction of the interior minister.

Huzaifa Rehman, who broke the EOBI (Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) scam, informed the chief justice of Pakistan during the hearing of the case that his organisation had stopped his salary.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Rehman said after taking suo motu notice of the scam the chief justice had asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strengthen his security.

On Thursday, the reporter informed the court that he could not arrange meal for the security personnel due to non-payment of his salary by his employers.

Besides, he added, his employers were also considering sacking him.

In response, the chief justice issued orders for protection of his job and payment of the salary.

Later, his employer called him asking him to come to his office.

When the reporter arrived in the office, the owner along with his brother snatched his cellphone and manhandled him.

However, he managed to escape from the office and informed his guards who took him away.

The journalist reached the Supreme Court and brought the incident into the notice of SC Register Dr Faqir Hussain.

The registrar called the interior minister and asked him to take legal action against the accused.

On the other hand, the employees of the TV channel denied the claim of the reporter that he had been detained or manhandled.

They said the reporter met the owners over the salary issue and there was a possibility that they had exchanged harsh words.