FIA arrests journalist Farhan Mallick over content of videos – Pakistan

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday arrested journalist Farhan Mallick over the content of his YouTube platform’s videos.

Mallick is the founder of media agency Raftar which describes itself as a “dynamic platform dedicated to driving social change through the power of storytelling. He is also the former news director of Samaa TV.

FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre Additional Director Shahzad Haider told Dawn.com that an inquiry was initiated against Mallick around three months ago.

Regarding specific charges, the official replied by saying that Mallick had run “several programmes against the security establishment”. Haider added that Mallick was formally arrested today after the completion of an inquiry.

Meanwhile, Mallick’s wife told Dawn.com that there was no written charge sheet, nor any reason for his arrest.

“We have not received a first information report (FIR), nor have we been informed about the charges,” she said over the phone. “We know that he’s at the FIA Cybercrime office in Gulistan-i-Johar.”

Mallick’s wife said that he went to the FIA “to discuss something” on his own, but was not received by anyone for hours.

“We were thinking it was just a meeting, there was no indication he was under investigation,” she maintained. “After four or five hours, he was told he was under arrest. I am clueless as to why this is happening,” she said.

“The content we produce is all in the public domain, we do not use any secret information.”

Raftar issued a statement on X saying that the FIA had visited the outlet’s office without notice on Wednesday and verbally summoned Mallick to appear at its office at 1pm today.

“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 post read, alleging that Raftar’s team was harassed by FIA officials.

“Raftar stands for truth, accountability, and the right to report freely without fear,” the outlet added. “The lack of transparency in this situation raises serious questions about press freedom and the targeting of independent voices.”

Raftar demanded immediate clarity on Mallick’s arrest and called for the protection of media professionals and journalists from “unjust harassment”.

Geo News anchor Shahzad Iqbal praised Mallick as a credible journalist and thorough professional who “always kept low profile” and just focused on the news and stories “without any ulterior motive”. “Another shameful act of victimising and suppressing free speech,” Iqbal added in a post on X.

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