A Karachi court granted bail to journalist Farhan Mallick, founder of the digital media platform Raftar, in a case involving alleged anti-state content. The court approved his bail against a bond of Rs 100,000. Mallick had been arrested on March 20 by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing in connection with content aired on his YouTube channel, Raftar TV, which allegedly targeted state institutions.
Mallick faces charges under the Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including violations related to unauthorized use of identity information and defamation. The case has been under investigation for the past three months, with the FIA accusing him of spreading content that could cause unrest.
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On March 26, Mallick was placed under a five-day physical remand in another case involving fraud linked to an alleged call center. His initial bail application was rejected, but after a legal appeal, the court has now granted him conditional bail.
Mallick’s case has sparked concern over press freedom in Pakistan, particularly regarding the growing use of the PECA to target journalists and media outlets for content deemed harmful to the state. Section 26A of the PECA, which criminalizes the spread of fake news, has been widely criticized for potentially curbing freedom of expression.
