JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 22, 2025 at 01:38 pm | JP Staff Report
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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!
اسلام آباد: صحافی اور آن لائن میڈیا پلیٹ فارم رفتار کے بانی فرحان ملک کی گرفتاری پاکستان میں آزادی اظہار پر بڑھتے دباؤ کی نشاندہی کرتی ہے، روزنامہ ڈان نے اپنے اداریے "خاموش آوازیں" میں تبصرہ کرتے ہوئے کہا۔
فرحان کو الیکٹرانک جرائم کی روک تھام کے قانون پیکا کی خلاف ورزیوں اور ہتک عزت کے الزامات کے تحت وفاقی تحقیقاتی ادارے کی حراست میں دے دیا گیا ہے۔ ایف آئی اے کا الزام ہے کہ وہ "ریاست مخالف" مواد پھیلانے، جعلی خبروں اور عوام کو بھڑکانے کے ایجنڈے میں ملوث ہیں۔
وہ اس وقت ایف آئی اے کی تحویل میں ہیں اور 25 مارچ کو کراچی کی عدالت میں پیش کیے جائیں گے۔
اخبار ڈان کے مطابق، ان کی گرفتاری نے اظہار رائے پر بڑھتے دباؤ اور سخت قوانین کے ذریعے اختلاف رائے کو دبانے کے خطرناک رجحان کو بے نقاب کیا ہے۔
"ریاست اپنے مفاد میں یہ فیصلہ کرنے کی کوشش کر رہی ہے کہ کون سا مواد درست ہے اور کون سا غلط، جس سے جمہوری اقدار کی نفی ہوتی ہے،" اداریے میں کہا گیا۔
اخبار نے پیکا قانون کی مبہم شقوں پر بھی تنقید کی، جو 2016 سے ہی صحافیوں اور ڈیجیٹل حقوق کے کارکنان کی جانب سے تنقید کی زد میں ہے۔
مزید برآں، ڈان نے خبردار کیا کہ یہ جبر آزادی اظہار کے تمام راستے محدود کر دے گا اور حکومت کو مشورہ دیا کہ وہ اپنی پالیسی پر نظرثانی کرے۔
"بحث و مباحثے کو دبانے سے روایتی میڈیا کی ساکھ متاثر ہوتی ہے اور جھوٹی معلومات کے پھیلاؤ کی راہ ہموار ہوتی ہے،" اخبار نے نشاندہی کی۔
کمیٹی ٹو پروٹیکٹ جرنلسٹس کے مطابق، 2024 کے آخر میں فرحان کو کراچی ایئرپورٹ پر حراست میں لے کر دوحہ جانے سے روکا گیا تھا۔ اس سے قبل وہ دو ایف آئی اے انکوائریوں کا سامنا کر چکے تھے، جس کے خلاف انہوں نے سندھ ہائی کورٹ میں درخواست بھی دائر کی تھی۔
رفتار، جو کہ 750,000 سے زائد فالوورز رکھتا ہے، خود کو "کہانی سنانے کی طاقت کے ذریعے سماجی تبدیلی کو فروغ دینے والا متحرک پلیٹ فارم" قرار دیتا ہے۔ یہ ادارہ پاکستان کے سیاسی، معاشی، اور سلامتی کے معاملات پر تحقیقی رپورٹس اور دستاویزی فلمیں تیار کرتا ہے۔
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