KARACHI, March 25 (Alliance News): A local court on Tuesday sent senior journalist Farhan Mallick to jail on judicial remand after rejecting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s request for an extension of his physical remand.
Mallick, a former director of a private news channel and current owner of a YouTube channel, was arrested on March 20 for allegedly spreading anti-state content. The FIA produced him before the Judicial Magistrate (East) after the expiry of his four-day remand, seeking further custody. However, the court refused the request and instead ordered judicial remand.
During the hearing, the judge questioned the nature of the alleged anti-state videos and inquired about the complainant. The court also asked Mallick whether he had been mistreated during custody, to which he replied that his staff was being harassed. The judge warned the FIA that any harassment would lead to a show-cause notice.
The court set March 27 as the date for the next hearing on Mallick’s bail application. Several senior journalists and anchors were present during the proceedings.
The journalist faces charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), recently amended amid opposition from journalist bodies, and sections 190 and 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code related to abetment and defamation. The FIR accuses him of disseminating fake news and inciting the public, allegedly harming the reputation of state institutions internationally.
The case has sparked concerns over press freedom, with Mallick’s YouTube team alleging that the FIA raided his office, confiscating his computer and USB drive.
They claim the move is part of an effort to intimidate journalists and suppress free speech.
