Court Orders Judicial Custody for Journalist Farhan Mallick

• Court denies FIA’s request for Mallick’s remand.
• Bail hearing in Peca case set for April 3.
• Money laundering case bail hearing on April 7.
  

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate in Karachi has ordered journalist Farhan Mallick to be held in judicial custody. The order was issued on Monday.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented Farhan Mallick along with other accused individuals before Special Judicial Magistrate Malir. This appearance followed the completion of their physical remand. The magistrate rejected the FIA’s request for an extension of the remand and instructed that Mallick be transferred to Landhi jail.

During the court proceedings, one of the accused, identified as Atir, informed the court that he had never previously met Mallick. He stated that he only encountered Mallick for the first time while in lockup during the remand period. Atir also denied the claim that Mallick was involved in the alleged illegal call centre operation.

Lawyer Jibran Nasir, representing Mallick, argued that the FIA had not provided sufficient details regarding the specific crime allegedly committed by his client. He further questioned the nature of the evidence that was recovered during Mallick’s remand.

In response, the investigating officer stated that the equipment seized had been sent for forensic examination to determine its relevance to the case.

Nasir also pointed out that another case was registered against Mallick immediately after he was sent to judicial remand, raising concerns about potential further charges against the journalist.

However, the investigating officer assured the court that no additional cases had been registered against Mallick at that time.

Mallick is currently facing two separate cases. The first case falls under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), stemming from allegations that he posted anti-state content on social media. The second case involves accusations of money laundering and facilitating an illegal call centre.

The bail hearing for the Peca case is scheduled for April 3, while the hearing for the money laundering case is set for April 7.

Mallick, who formerly served as the director of news for a private news channel and currently operates a YouTube channel, was initially taken into custody on March 20. The charges against him involve allegedly spreading anti-state content.

In the related case registered by the FIA, the agency reported raiding a call centre. They allege that employees of the call center were involved in stealing data from foreign nationals and defrauding them.

According to the FIA, two suspects were apprehended during the raid. These individuals reportedly told authorities that the call centre was being operated under Mallick’s directives.

The FIR (First Information Report) in the case states that the suspects, identified as Syed Muhammad Atir Hussain and Hasan Najeeb Alam, along with others, were involved in defrauding numerous foreign nationals. This was allegedly achieved by stealing confidential financial data, including credit card information, “through spoofed calls and impersonation,” with the intention of using the stolen data for illicit financial gain.