Raftar CEO Farhan Mallick was detained by authorities for allegedly posting "anti-state" videos on YouTube.
This statement was originally published on pakistanpressfoundation.org on 21 March 2025.
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) arrest of Farhan Mallick, the Chief Executive Officer of the digital media platform Raftar on March 20 in Karachi. PPF calls for the immediate release of Mallick and urges the FIA to clarify the reasons and circumstances for Mallick’s arrest. His arrest under such unclear and vague circumstances raises alarm bells. Additionally, the FIA’s visit to the Raftar office without notice and alleged harassment of the team is condemnable. It is unacceptable that media professionals are pressured through such intimidation methods.
The FIA seems to be following a pattern of harassment. Mallick’s arrest echoes the circumstances of another media professional’s arrest last year, Asad Ali Toor, who was also taken into custody when appearing before the FIA.
The criminal complaint (First Information Report) against Mallick was registered by the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Center Karachi under Sections 16, 20, and 26-A of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Amendment Act 2025.
As per the FIR, an inquiry was registered, and a report was received regarding Raftar’s YouTube channel. The FIR alleged that the channel was “involved in running [a] campaign for posting anti-state videos targeting the dignitaries mentioned in violation on YouTube channel.” Mallick was stated as the “handler” of the channel.
The FIR stated that during the inquiry, initial technical analysis of the YouTube channel had shown that Mallick was involved in “generating and disseminating posts and videos related to anti-state consist of fake news and public incitement agenda.” It stated that this was causing harm to the reputation of “public institutes on an international level which acts on his part constitute the commission of offence.” Based on this, a case had been registered against Mallick, and its investigation had been taken up.
Speaking to PPF, Mallick’s daughter, Haneen Mallick, said that FIA officials forcefully entered the Raftar office without providing any explanation. She claimed they harassed her father and his team and verbally summoned him to appear at the FIA office at 1 pm the next day.
“My father went to the FIA office exactly at the time they told him, but he was made to wait until 5 pm,” she said. “Later, he was informed that he was being arrested. By 8 PM, when we still had no information, some of his friends visited the FIA office and were briefly shown an FIR — too quickly to read — before being told that he was arrested under PECA charges for allegedly producing anti-state content.”
Haneen noted that in November 2024, the FIA had issued two notices accusing Mallick of an “anti-state campaign on social media.” She said Mallick attended all related hearings and secured bail from the Sindh High Court in December.
A post on X from Mallick’s account stated: “I don’t know what crime my father is being accused of — because there isn’t one. He is a journalist who believes in truth, in holding power accountable, in giving a voice to the people. Is that now a crime? Is free journalism something to be punished?”
According to a post shared by Raftar on X, FIA officials on March 19 had visited the Raftar office “without prior notice,” harassed the team, and “verbally summoned” Mallick to their office for a hearing on March 20 at 1 pm. As per the outlet, Mallick appeared before the FIA, and after being made to wait for hours, he was arrested at 6 pm.
“We are deeply concerned by this blatant intimidation of independent journalism. Raftar stands for truth, accountability, and the right to report freely without fear. The lack of transparency in this situation raises serious questions about press freedom and the targeting of independent voices. We demand immediate clarity on Mr. Mallick’s arrest and call for the protection of journalists and media professionals from unjust harassment,” the outlet stated on X.
According to FIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre Additional Director Shahzad Haider, there was an inquiry launched against Mallick three months ago, Dawn reported. The official alleged that Mallick was “formally arrested” after the inquiry was completed.
A remand request to the Judicial Magistrate Karachi East court requested police remand Mallick till April 3. A handwritten order stated that remand had been granted for four days (till March 25).
In November 2024, Mallick received a notice from the FIA Cyber Crime Circle in Islamabad. The notice accused him of propagating anti-state content on social media and summoned him for an inquiry in Islamabad on November 20. He faced challenges, including being stopped from boarding a flight to Doha and being detained at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport for five and a half hours.
Mallick’s arrest has been widely condemned.
In a statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said that Mallick’s arrest was a “blatant attempt to stifle free speech and intimidate journalists who dare to criticize those in power.”
Demanding Mallick’s release and a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest, in a joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari stated: “It is imperative that the government reins in agencies like the FIA, which have a history of overstepping their authority and suppressing dissenting voices.”
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded his immediate release and called for a transparent investigation into the matter.
“The government must check the overreach of agencies such as the @FIA_Agency and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution,” HRCP stated.
In a post shared on X, Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili condemned the arrest and stated: “His arrest reinforces our apprehension that this draconian law will be used to silence journalists and stifle journalism in the country. He should be released immediately.”
