CEO of Digital Media Outlet Farhan Malik Remanded by Court Under PECA

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate in Karachi has granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a four-day physical remand of journalist Farhan Malik, founder of the digital media outlet “Raftar.”

Malik was arrested by the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing and presented before the court, where the magistrate approved his remand and directed officials to submit a progress report at the next hearing.

According to reports, FIA officials raided Raftar’s office a day before Malik’s arrest, harassing staff members and summoning him to their office without prior notice. Malik complied and appeared at the FIA’s office at 1 PM, but after several hours of waiting, he was taken into custody at 6 PM without any formal explanation.

His family has expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding his arrest. His wife stated that they have not received any First Information Report (FIR) or official charges, raising serious questions about due process. His daughter also voiced her outrage on social media, emphasizing that Malik was simply doing his job as a journalist and questioning whether press freedom was now a punishable offense.

Legal experts, including Malik’s lawyer Abdul Moiz Jafri, suggest that his arrest may be linked to recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). However, no official confirmation has been provided regarding the specific allegations against him.

The journalist community has widely condemned the arrest, with the Karachi Press Club calling it a direct attack on press freedom. Geo News anchor Shahzad Iqbal also defended Malik, describing him as a professional journalist who remained focused on factual reporting.

This is not Malik’s first encounter with the FIA. In December, he was detained at Karachi Airport for five hours and prevented from boarding a flight to Doha without explanation. His phone and passport were confiscated, and he was only allowed to leave after seeking intervention from the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports.

Media organizations and human rights groups have demanded clarity on Malik’s arrest, urging authorities to uphold press freedom and ensure journalists are not subjected to unjust harassment.