Digital Media Outlet ‘Raftar’ CEO Arrested Over Video Content

Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested Farhan Mallick, CEO of the digital media platform Raftar, over the content of his YouTube videos. Mallick, who is also the former news director of Samaa TV, was under investigation for three months before his arrest on Thursday.

Raftar, a digital-first news outlet, primarily operates through YouTube and social media, reflecting the growing trend of tech-driven journalism where independent reporters rely on digital platforms to reach global audiences. However, this shift has also placed online journalists under increased regulatory pressure, with laws like the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) being used to monitor and restrict digital content.

FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre Additional Director Shahzad Haider stated that Mallick was under investigation for three months and was arrested for airing “several programs against the security establishment.” However, no formal charge sheet has been issued.

Mallick’s wife told TechJuice that there was no FIR or written explanation for his arrest. “We have not received a first information report (FIR), nor have we been informed about the charges,” she said. “We know that he’s at the FIA Cybercrime office in Gulistan-i-Johar.”

She further revealed that Mallick voluntarily visited the FIA office for a discussion but was kept waiting for hours before being told he was under arrest. “We were thinking it was just a meeting, there was no indication he was under investigation,” she added. “After four or five hours, he was told he was under arrest. I am clueless as to why this is happening.”

Mallick’s daughter also posted on social media about an FIA raid at the Raftar office the night before his arrest. “They harassed him and his team, gave no reason for their visit, and demanded that he appear at their office today at 1pm for a hearing,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

She further claimed that her father was arrested without explanation.

“He went to the FIA at 1 PM and was arrested at 6 PM, without any explanation or justification. 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.”

Mallick’s arrest has triggered an outcry from press freedom organizations, digital rights activists, and the tech industry, who argue that online journalism is being unfairly targeted under cyber laws.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded Mallick’s immediate release, stating: “The government must check the overreach of agencies such as the FIA and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.”

Following Mallick’s arrest, Raftar released a statement on X, highlighting concerns over the freedom of digital media. “In compliance, Mallick appeared at the designated office at the required time. However, after making him wait for hours without cause, the authorities arrested him at 6pm,” the statement read.

Raftar further alleged that its team was harassed during the FIA raid and demanded clarity regarding Mallick’s detention. “Raftar stands for truth, accountability, and the right to report freely without fear,” the outlet said. “The lack of transparency in this situation raises serious questions about press freedom and the targeting of independent voices.”

This is not the first time Mallick has faced issues with the FIA. In December 2024, he was stopped from boarding a flight to Doha and detained for over five hours at Karachi Airport.

“At first, my passport was taken away. Shortly thereafter, my phone was also confiscated,” Mallick wrote on X at the time. “Despite repeatedly inquiring, no explanation for my detention or the confiscations was provided.”

After missing his flight, Mallick had to formally write to the Director General of Immigration and Passports to have his name removed from the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), despite not being informed that he was on it.

In November 2024, he was also the subject of two FIA investigations regarding Raftar’s content, prompting him to seek legal protection from the Sindh High Court, which restrained authorities from taking coercive action against him.