March 21, 2025
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
Journalist and YouTuber Farhan Mallick on Friday March 21, who was charged with airing fake news, has now been remanded in custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for four more days till March 25, by a Karachi court. Mallick was arrested by the FIA on Thursday, for allegedly airing content critical of the security establishment.
Mallick, who is the founder of media outlet Raftar, was formerly a news director at Samaa TV, was taken into custody at the FIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre after he appeared there in connection with an inquiry already against him.
According to court documents, the FIA presented Malik before the Judicial Magistrate (East) Karachi, requesting a 14-day physical remand. However, the court granted only a four-day remand, placing Malik in FIA custody until Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
During the proceedings, Malik’s legal counsel informed the court that several inquiries were already pending against his client, and that the Sindh High Court (SHC) had previously issued orders prohibiting any action against him. Malik’s counsel strongly argued that the FIA had acted in direct violation of the High Court’s explicit instructions.
‘False information’
According to the FIR dated March 20, Mallick has been charged under Sections 16 (unauthorised use of identity information) , 20 (offences against dignity of natural person), and 26-A (punishment for false and fake information) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 (as amended in 2025), read with Section 500 (punishment for defamation)/109 (punishment of abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The FIR, signed by Investigation Officer Muhammed Zeeshan Awan of FIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC) Karachi, alleges that Malik promoted “fake news and public incitement agenda, thereby causing harm to the reputation of public institutes on an international level which acts on his part constitute the commission of offence.”
The brief facts presented in the FIR state that Enquiry No. 24/2024 was registered at PS FIA Cybercrime Karachi based on a report received from an unidentified source regarding YouTube Channel “Raftar TV”. The FIR claims that during analysis of the YouTube channel, it was revealed that “the alleged person is involved in generating and disseminating posts and content related to fake news on social media platforms which damage the reputation of public institutions.”
PFUJ and HRCP demand Mallick’s unconditional release
Meanwhile the journalist community has condemned the arrest. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) swiftly denounced the role of law enforcement, and PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari issued a joint statement, demanding his immediate and unconditional release, along with a transparent investigation into the arrest.
The PFUJ leadership characterized the arrest as “a blatant attempt to stifle free speech and intimidate journalists who dare to criticize those in power,” adding that “it is imperative that the government reins in agencies like the FIA, which have a history of overstepping their authority and suppressing dissenting voices.”
The journalists’ union emphasized that Article 19 of the Pakistani Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and stressed that it is the government’s duty to uphold this fundamental right. The statement concluded by urging authorities to “respect the principles of democracy and protect the freedom of the press,” noting that “the international community is watching.”
In a statement, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded Mallick’s immediate release and a transparent investigation into the matter.
“The government must check the overreach of agencies such as the FIA and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution,” it said.
Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili also condemned Mallick’s detention under the PECA law and demanded his immediate release.
“His arrest reinforces our apprehensions that this draconian law will be used to silence the journalists and stifle journalism in the country,” he said in a post on X.
‘No concrete evidence against Mallick’
Mallick’s daughter voiced on X against the arrest, and said that the FIA personnel had entered his office unexpectedly last night, providing no justification for their presence. They allegedly harassed him and his staff, and ordered him to attend a hearing at their office today at 1 PM.
In response to Mallick’s court hearing, Raftar released an official statement on their social media handles saying no concrete evidence has been submitted in court to substantiate the ‘anti state’ allegations against Mallick or his organisation.
“This morning, a court hearing was held regarding the arrest of Farhan Mallick. The FIA requested a 14-day remand, seeking extended custody. The court granted only a three-day remand, with the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday, 25th of March 2025. At this stage, no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate the ‘anti state’ allegations against Mr. Mallick or Raftar. For now, Mr. Mallick remains in FIA custody. We remain committed to upholding the principles of press freedom and due process and will continue to pursue all legal avenues to ensure justice prevails. We appreciate the support and solidarity shown during this time and will provide updates as the situation develops. Keep raising your voices.”
The case has emerged as a significant point of contention between media freedom advocates and law enforcement authorities. The FIA’s Cyber Crime unit’s actions against a prominent digital media owner have raised concerns about the parameters of free speech and the application of cybercrime laws in Pakistan. The court has sought a detailed progress report for the next hearing, reflecting the serious nature of the case which sits at the intersection of media rights and legal authority.
Mallick’s recent run-in with the FIA follows a previous incident.
In December, he had recounted on X being stopped from boarding a flight to Doha and detained for over five hours at Karachi Airport.
“My passport was initially taken, and shortly after, my phone was confiscated,” he had written at the time. “Despite asking repeatedly, no reason was given for my detention or the confiscations.”
Mallick further explained that after his flight left, he had to request the Director General of Immigration and Passports to remove his name from the Provisional National Identification List, despite having no reason to believe he was on it. He also alleged he was denied access to his phone to contact legal counsel.
“This detention was completely arbitrary and violated my rights,” Mallick wrote. “I was already under two FIA inquiries last month (November 2024), both claiming to investigate my YouTube platform [Raftar].” He added, “I sought and received protection from the Sindh High Court, which restrained the authorities from any coercive action or harassment.”