Farhan Mallick, a journalist, has been sent on judicial remand.

KARACHI: A local court on Tuesday returned journalist Farhan Mallick to jail on judicial remand after rejecting the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) plea to extend his physical remand in a case involving suspected anti-state material.
After his four-day physical detention expired, the FIA took the senior journalist to the Judicial Magistrate (East) to request an extension of the custody.

However, the court denied the FIA’s plea for his physical remand and instead sentenced Mallick, who served as the director of a private news program and currently controls a YouTube channel, to jail on judicial remand.

The court also issued notifications on Mallick’s bail application, stating that the next hearing will be on March 27. Several anchors and top journalists were in attendance throughout the events.

The investigating officer alerted the court of the posting of anti-state films during the hearing. In response, the court inquired about the identity of the plaintiff in the case and questioned the content of the films.

The judge also asked if Mallick had experienced harassment or abuse while in detention.

The reporter claimed that harassment was occurring among his employees. The court then asked the investigating officer whether any other people were involved in the matter and threatened to give the officer a show-cause notice if anybody was harassed.

On March 20, the FIA arrested the journalist on charges of defamation and violation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

Journalists across have been protesting the controversial Peca legislation, which was recently revised. They claim that the measure is an attempt to restrict free speech and intimidate journalists and their media outlets.

In accordance with the provisions of the Peca Act, as well as Sections 190 (penalty of abetment if the act assisted is undertaken in consequence and where no specific provision is provided for its punishment) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Pakistan Penal Code, a formal complaint has been filed against him.

Mallick, who currently runs a YouTube channel and was the director of news for a private news station, is accused of spreading anti-state information, according to the FIR.

“During the course of [i]nquiry, initial technical analysis of alleged YouTube Channel was received which revealed that the alleged person is involved in generating and disseminating posts and videos related to Anti-State consist of fake news and public incitement agenda,” the FIR mentioned.

“He has [been] continuously disseminating and uploading posts and videos related to anti-state consist of fake news and public incitement agenda, thereby causing harm to the reputation of public institutes on an international level which acts on his part constitute the commission of offence.”

The local court hearing took place a day after the administration of Mallick’s YouTube channel claimed that the FIA had raided the journalist’s office, seizing his computer and USB drive.

The administration stated that the raid was not part of routine investigations but an attack on press freedom.

The government claimed that the raid was not part of normal investigations, but rather an attack on journalistic freedom.