A local court on Tuesday sent journalist Farhan Mallick to jail on judicial remand after rejecting the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) request to extend his physical remand in a case involving alleged anti-state content.
Following the expiration of his four-day physical remand, the FIA presented Mallick, a senior journalist and director of news at a private news channel, before the Judicial Magistrate (East), seeking an extension. However, the court dismissed the FIA’s request and sent Mallick to jail on judicial remand instead.
The court also scheduled a hearing for March 27 on Mallick’s bail application and issued notices regarding the request. Many senior journalists and anchors were present during the proceedings.
The investigating officer informed the court that Mallick had posted anti-state videos, but the judge questioned the specifics of the videos and asked who the complainant in the case was. The judge also inquired whether Mallick had been mistreated during custody, to which Mallick replied that his staff was being harassed. The court warned the investigating officer that if any harassment was found, a show-cause notice would be issued.
Mallick was arrested on March 20 for allegedly violating the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and for involvement in defamation. The PECA law, which has sparked protests from journalist groups across Pakistan, was recently amended and criticized for potentially curbing press freedom.
An FIR was lodged against Mallick under various sections of the PECA and Pakistan Penal Code, including sections related to defamation and abetment. The FIR accuses Mallick of spreading fake news and anti-state content through his YouTube channel, claiming that he incited public unrest and harmed the reputation of state institutions.
The FIA also raided Mallick’s office the day before the court hearing, seizing his computer and USB drive. Mallick’s YouTube channel administration condemned the raid, describing it as an attack on press freedom rather than a routine investigation.
