Journalist Farhan Mallick has been released from jail after being granted bail in both cases, one filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the other for allegedly running an illegal call center.

The District and Sessions Courts Karachi East have approved bail for Mallick in a case filed under the PECA Act.

During the hearing, the court granted bail upon submission of surety bonds worth Rs100,000.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Moiz Jafri, argued that the case has no legal standing, as no evidence has been presented despite the passage of significant time.

He emphasized that a screenshot alone does not constitute grounds for a criminal case.

Earlier, during the April 3 hearing, the court had reissued a notice to the FIA regarding the case.

Context to the case

Mallick was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Karachi on March 20.

According to Abdul Moiz Jaffery, the arrest seems to be based on the recent amendments to the PECA Act. However, the FIA has not yet provided Farhan Mallick’s family with an official FIR or any details about the case.

Jaffery noted that Mallick was initially called in by the FIA for questioning, but after being held for two to three hours, he was formally arrested.

In a social media post, Raftar reported that FIA officials visited their office on Wednesday without prior notice, harassed the staff, and subsequently summoned Farhan Mallick to appear at the FIA’s office on Thursday at 1pm.

Journalist Farhan Mallick, recently arrested by the FIA, has been presented before the Judicial Magistrate East in Karachi.

During the proceedings, the magistrate granted the FIA a 4-day physical remand for Mallick and requested a progress report to be submitted at the next hearing on March 21.

Mallick filed a petition seeking the dismissal of a case against him under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) on March 24.

The court has responded by issuing notices to the involved parties and has postponed the hearing until after the Eid holidays.

A local court in Karachi approved a five-day remand for journalist Farhan Mallick, who has been handed over to police custody following allegations of operating an illegal call center on March 26.

On March 27, the court summoned the Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to appear in person. During the hearing led by Magistrate Yasri Ashfaq, the court expressed displeasure over the arrest of the accused in a different case without prior approval. A show-cause notice was issued to the investigating officer in response to this.

On March 31, Mallick was presented at District and Sessions Court Malir Karachi, where he faced a Special Judicial Magistrate on the first day of Eid ul Fitr. The court ordered his transfer to Landhi Jail on judicial remand.

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