Journalist Farhan Mallick Remains in Custody as Bail Plea Set for April 7 Hearing

Journalist Farhan Mallick remains incarcerated as his bail plea in a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) is scheduled to be heard on April 7.

However, there was a development related to another hearing today. According to recent reports, the FIA claimed not to have received a notice for today’s hearing, which was related to an appeal against the dismissal of his bail application. Advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferii, representing Mallick, mentioned this issue.

Read More: Farhan Malick, Senior Journalist and YouTube Channel Founder, Arrested by FIA

Mallick, the founder of media agency Raftar and a former news director at Samaa TV, was arrested on March 20 for allegedly spreading anti-state content on social media and is also accused of involvement in a money laundering case linked to an illegal call centre.

His initial bail plea was dismissed by a local court on March 28. A subsequent appeal against this dismissal was filed, with the court seeking the FIA’s response by April.

He has been booked under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) as well as the Pakistan Penal Code in a case related to alleged anti-state content on his YouTube channel.

Mallick’s case has drawn attention due to concerns over freedom of speech and the application of the amended PECA law, which has been criticized by journalist bodies as an attempt to gag media freedom.