State as judge: Dawn criticizes Farhan Mallick’s arrest under PECA

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 22 March 2025 | JP Staff Report

The arrest of journalist Farhan Mallick has raised serious concerns about media suppression in Pakistan. Dawn's editorial underscores the dangers of using ambiguous laws to silence dissent.
Summary

ISLAMABAD—The arrest of journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick marks a new phase of media suppression in Pakistan, according to an editorial published by Dawn titled "Muzzled Voices."

Farhan has been remanded into the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over alleged violations of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and defamation charges. The FIA accuses him of generating and disseminating content classified as "anti-state," including fake news and incitement.

Currently in FIA custody, Farhan is scheduled to appear before a Karachi court on March 25.

In its editorial, Dawn emphasized that his arrest raises serious concerns about the increasing suppression of dissent and the arbitrary use of draconian laws to silence journalists. It criticized the state's "self-appointed role as judge" in determining what information is deemed false, warning that such actions undermine democratic values.

"Since its introduction in 2016, PECA has faced consistent backlash from journalists and digital rights activists for its ambiguous provisions that empower state interference in media affairs," the editorial noted.

The paper further warned that this oppression threatens all avenues of free expression and urged the government to reconsider its approach.

"Silencing critical discourse damages the credibility of traditional media and creates space for unreliable narratives to thrive," Dawn cautioned.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Farhan was previously detained at Karachi Airport in late 2024 and prevented from boarding a flight to Doha. This incident followed two FIA inquiries against him the previous month. In response, he had filed a petition with the Sindh High Court to halt the alleged harassment.

Farhan’s media platform, Raftar, has a significant following of 750,000 users and describes itself as "a dynamic platform dedicated to driving social change through the power of storytelling." The outlet is known for its investigative reports and documentaries on Pakistan’s political, economic, and security issues.

Discover more—visit our Dawn Archives!

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KEY POINTS:

Farhan Mallick was arrested by FIA over alleged PECA violations.
Dawn's editorial warns about increasing media suppression in Pakistan.
The editorial criticizes the state's role in defining false information.
PECA has faced backlash for its ambiguous provisions since 2016.
Mallick's media platform, Raftar, has 750,000 followers focused on social change.