Farhan Mallick, the CEO of the digital media platform Raftar, was granted bail in both cases registered against him. He was subsequently released from Malir jail. The Federal Investigations Agency (FIA) arrested Mallick on March 20 in Karachi.
The first criminal complaint (First Information Report) against Mallick, dated March 20, was registered by the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Center Karachi under Sections 16, 20, and 26-A of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Amendment Act 2025.
As per the FIR, an inquiry was registered, and a report was received regarding Raftar’s YouTube channel. The FIR alleged that the channel was “involved in running [a] campaign for posting anti-state videos targeting the dignitaries mentioned in violation on YouTube channel.” Mallick was stated as the “handler” of the channel.
The FIR stated that during the inquiry, initial technical analysis of the YouTube channel had shown that Mallick was involved in “generating and disseminating posts and videos related to anti-state consist of fake news and public incitement agenda.” It stated that this was causing harm to the reputation of “public institutes on an international level which acts on his part constitute the commission of offence.” Based on this, a case had been registered against Mallick, and its investigation had been taken up.
Mallick was initially remanded in FIA custody in the case and later shifted to jail on 14-day judicial remand.
According to Dawn, Mallick’s legal counsel had filed a bail application before Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq which had been dismissed and was then challenged before the sessions court which the District and Sessions Judge (East) Dr Chaudhry Wasim Iqbal approved.
A second FIR, dated March 25, registered at the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Center in Karachi on the complaint of an individual named Asad Ali stated that some individuals were involved in the theft of confidential financial data of credit cards of foreign nationals through spoofed calls and impersonation. As per the FIR, the alleged persons had disclosed that they were acting on the patronage of Farhan Mallick.
On March 26, Mallick was remanded in FIA custody for five days in this case.
Following the granting of bail in the first case, Mallick’s counsel approached the Judicial Magistrate (Malir) for bail in the second case.
