Islamabad [Pakistan], April 7 (ANI): A local court in Pakistan on Monday granted bail to journalist Farhan Mallick, who had been in judicial custody in connection with a case filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for allegedly disseminating anti-state content, Geo News reported.
The court approved his bail and ordered him to submit a surety bond worth Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 100,000. Mallick, formerly the news director of a private TV channel, was initially taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on March 20 for alleged violations of PECA and involvement in defamation.
In addition to the PECA-related charges, the court also granted bail to Mallick in a separate case concerning his alleged involvement in operating an illegal call center that defrauded foreigners and stole their data. He was directed to furnish another PKR 100,000 surety bond in this case as well.
Recently, Pakistan amended the PECA law, prompting protests from journalist organizations who have criticized the law as an attempt to suppress freedom of speech and intimidate media outlets and personnel, according to the Geo News report.
An FIR was registered against Mallick under multiple PECA sections. It stated: “During the course of inquiry, initial technical analysis of the alleged YouTube channel was received, which revealed that the alleged person is involved in generating and disseminating posts and videos related to anti-state content, consisting of fake news and public incitement agenda.”
The FIR further noted: “He has continuously disseminated and uploaded posts and videos related to anti-state content, consisting of fake news and public incitement agenda, thereby causing harm to the reputation of public institutions at an international level.”
Earlier, on March 28, a local court had rejected his bail plea, which was later challenged in a district and sessions court. Mallick was sent to jail on judicial remand on March 25 after a court denied the FIA’s request for an extension of his physical remand.
Following the expiry of his four-day physical remand, the FIA had produced Mallick before the judicial magistrate (East), seeking further remand. However, the court rejected the request and ordered judicial custody instead. (ANI)
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