JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 20, 2025 at 10:26 pm | JP Staff Report
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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.
اسلام آباد: فیڈرل انویسٹی گیشن ایجنسی (ایف آئی اے) نے صحافی اور ڈیجیٹل میڈیا پلیٹ فارم رفتار کے بانی فرحان ملک کو ان کے یوٹیوب ویڈیوز کے مواد پر گرفتار کرلیا۔
ایف آئی اے سائبر کرائم رپورٹنگ سینٹر کے ایڈیشنل ڈائریکٹر شہزاد حیدر کے مطابق ملک کے خلاف تین ماہ سے تحقیقات جاری تھیں، اور انہیں اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے خلاف پروگرام نشر کرنے کے الزام میں باضابطہ طور پر حراست میں لیا گیا ہے۔
ملک کی اہلیہ نے گرفتاری پر حیرانی کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ نہ تو کوئی چارج شیٹ فراہم کی گئی اور نہ ہی ایف آئی آر دی گئی۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ ملک اپنی مرضی سے ایف آئی اے دفتر گئے تھے، مگر گھنٹوں انتظار کے بعد اچانک انہیں گرفتار کرلیا گیا۔
ملک کے بیٹے نے سوشل میڈیا پر ایک پوسٹ میں دعویٰ کیا کہ ایف آئی اے اہلکار ایک دن پہلے ان کے دفتر میں زبردستی داخل ہوئے، عملے کو ہراساں کیا، اور ملک کو طلب کیا۔ تاہم، پانچ گھنٹے انتظار کے بعد انہیں بغیر کسی وضاحت کے گرفتار کرلیا گیا۔
رفتار نے اپنے بیان میں اس گرفتاری کی مذمت کرتے ہوئے وضاحت کا مطالبہ کیا اور کہا کہ ان کے عملے کو بھی ہراساں کیا گیا۔ ادارے نے آزادی صحافت پر اپنے عزم کو دہرایا۔
صحافیوں اور انسانی حقوق کی تنظیموں، بشمول ہیومن رائٹس کمیشن آف پاکستان، نے گرفتاری کو آزادی اظہار پر حملہ قرار دیا۔ کراچی پریس کلب کے صدر فاضل جمیل نے کہا کہ ملک کی گرفتاری پیکا قانون کے تحت کی گئی، جو آزادی صحافت کو دبانے کے لیے استعمال ہو رہا ہے۔
سینئر صحافی شہزاد اقبال نے فرحان ملک کو ایک ایماندار صحافی قرار دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ وہ ہمیشہ خبروں پر توجہ دیتے رہے اور ان کا کوئی پوشیدہ ایجنڈا نہیں تھا۔
ملک کی گرفتاری نے پاکستان میں آزادی صحافت پر بڑھتے ہوئے دباؤ کے بارے میں خدشات کو مزید گہرا کردیا ہے۔
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