Pakistan Must Read

Court denies bail to journalist Farhan Mallick in PECA case

The FIA, which had sought an extension of Mallick’s physical remand, had its request denied on March 25,

web desk

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28 Mar 2025

A local court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of journalist Farhan Mallick in a case related to alleged violations of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Judicial Magistrate (East) heard Mallick’s petition after he was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on March 20 for allegedly spreading anti-state content and engaging in defamation.

The case against Mallick was registered under multiple sections of PECA along with sections 190 and 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertain to abetment and defamation, respectively.

According to the FIR, Mallick—formerly a director of a private news channel and currently managing a YouTube channel—was allegedly involved in sharing content deemed anti-state.

Read: FIA arrests journalist Farhan Mallick under Peca law

The FIA, which had sought an extension of Mallick’s physical remand, had its request denied on March 25, and the court sent the journalist to jail on judicial remand.

A day before the court hearing, Mallick’s YouTube channel administration accused the FIA of seizing his computer and USB drive in a raid, calling it an attack on press freedom.