A Karachi court sentenced journalist Farhan Mallick to 14 days in jail on a judicial remand for broadcasting alleged “anti-state” content on Raftar TV’s YouTube channel.
The Farhan Mallick case began with his arrest on March 20 under the PECA Act and the Pakistan Penal Code. After spending four days in the custody of the FIA, Judicial Magistrate-I Khalique Zaman rejected an extension and chose to opt for remand.
#Pakistan: Pakistani authorities must immediately & unconditionally release journalist Farhan Mallick, detained in Karachi Thursday by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and cease harassing journalists in retaliation for their journalistic work https://t.co/A2rVvPsXW6
— CPJ Asia (@CPJAsia) March 22, 2025The FIA’s FIR accuses Raftar of targeting government officials with anti-state videos. The charges reference Section 26A of PECA, a newly introduced provision combating fake news that carries penalties of three years imprisonment or Rs 2 million in fines. Mallick awaits his bail hearing on March 27. Raftar condemned the procedural delays, noting the judge reassignment had prolonged proceedings despite their 8:30 a.m. commencement.
Read: Journalist Farhan Mallick Handed Over to FIA Custody Over Alleged Anti-State Content
Farhan Mallick Case Draws Global Backlash
Media and rights organizations have condemned Farhan Mallick’s case. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have called for his release, labelling his detention as state harassment. Beh Lih Yi from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the situation as an attack on press freedom, referencing the struggles faced by other journalists as well.
#Pakistan🇵🇰: Journalist and founder of digital news platform Raftar, Farhan Mallick, was arrested on 20 March for allegedly inciting fake news and promoting anti-State agendas. We demand his immediate release! @pfujpakistan https://t.co/askvdrr0Sd
— IFJ (@IFJGlobal) March 25, 2025The Human Rights Commission has urged the government to exercise restraint. Pakistan, currently ranked 152nd in press freedom, is being criticized for restricting online speech.
