Farhan Mallick Secures Bail in Controversial Anti-State Content Case

News Desk

Karachi: A Karachi court in the East District granted bail to journalist Farhan Mallick on Monday in a case related to anti-state content. Mallick, the founder of the digital media platform Raftar, was arrested by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing on March 20.

The court approved his bail against a bond of Rs 100,000. The case, which has been under investigation for three months, accuses Mallick of uploading content allegedly aimed at targeting the state and its institutions.

The charges against Mallick are based on provisions of the Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), particularly concerning his YouTube channel.

Case Background

Mallick’s legal issues began with an FIR filed by the FIA on March 20, following allegations that anti-state content had been aired on his YouTube channel, Raftar TV.

The charges include violations of Sections 16 (unauthorized use of identity information), 20 (offenses against the dignity of an individual), 500 (defamation), and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Section 26A, introduced through a recent amendment, criminalizes the dissemination of “fake news” that could incite public panic or unrest.

On March 26, Mallick was handed over to the FIA for a five-day physical remand in a separate fraud case involving an alleged call center.

His initial bail application was rejected by the Judicial Magistrate East, prompting his lawyer to file an appeal with the District and Sessions Judge East, who subsequently issued notices to the FIA regarding Mallick’s bail plea.

Mallick’s case has sparked concerns about the impact on press freedom in Pakistan, particularly as the criminalization of online content, including accusations of “fake news,” continues to raise alarm among media professionals.

Under Section 26A of PECA, individuals found guilty of spreading false information face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 2 million, or both.