FIA arrests journalist Farhan Mallick over YouTube content

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 20 March 2025 | JP Staff Report

The arrest of journalist Farhan Mallick by the FIA has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations. Mallick was detained after being investigated for his YouTube videos, which criticized the security establishment.
Summary

ISLAMABAD—The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested journalist Farhan Mallick, founder of digital media platform Raftar, over the content of his YouTube videos.

According to FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre Additional Director Shahzad Haider, Mallick was under inquiry for three months for allegedly airing programs critical of the security establishment. He was formally arrested after the investigation concluded.

Mallick’s wife expressed shock over his detention, stating that no official charge sheet or FIR was provided. She revealed that he had voluntarily visited the FIA office for a discussion but was made to wait for hours before being informed of his arrest.

Mallick’s son claimed in a post on X that FIA officials had “barged into” his office a day earlier, harassed the staff, and summoned him for questioning. However, after waiting for hours at the FIA office, he was taken into custody without any explanation.

Raftar issued a statement condemning the arrest and demanding clarity, stating that their team was also harassed by FIA officials. The organization emphasized its commitment to truth and press freedom.

Several journalists and human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, denounced the arrest as an attack on free speech. Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamil warned that Mallick’s arrest under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) reinforced fears of its misuse to silence journalists.

Senior journalist Shahzad Iqbal described Mallick as a credible professional who always focused on news without any ulterior motives.

His arrest has reignited concerns about press freedom and the increasing clampdown on independent journalists in Pakistan.

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KEY POINTS:

FIA arrested journalist Farhan Mallick over his YouTube content.
Mallick was under investigation for three months prior to his arrest.
His detention has raised alarms regarding press freedom in Pakistan.
Several organizations and journalists condemned the arrest as an attack on free speech.
Raftar, the platform Mallick founded, demanded clarity on his arrest.