Web Desk: Calls for the arrest of Pakistani journalist Farhan Malik surged on social media platform X on Tuesday. Hashtags such as “Arrest Farhan Malik” quickly rose to the top of the trending list.
The online campaign accuses Malik and his digital outlet, Raftar, of spreading disinformation. Users claim the platform harms national institutions and state interests. Many demanded swift legal action and said the law must apply equally to all. Others warned that delays in accountability weaken justice.
Posts circulating on X allege that Raftar promotes a state-opposed narrative. Critics say the platform selectively curates content and gives space to what they describe as anti-Pakistan material. Some users also accused Malik of pushing foreign, particularly Indian, narratives for financial gain. They provided no evidence for these claims.
The calls intensified as users urged authorities to reopen investigations. They asked officials to act quickly if wrongdoing is proven. At the same time, many stressed the need for transparent inquiries rather than verdicts driven by social media.
Malik, the founder of Raftar, is a prominent and often controversial figure in Pakistan’s media scene. In March 2025, the Federal Investigation Agency arrested him under cybercrime laws. These included provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Authorities said Malik’s YouTube programs and social media content carried “anti-state” narratives and fake news. The FIA raided Raftar’s offices, seized electronic equipment, and temporarily blocked the website.
Journalist unions and rights groups strongly criticised the move. In April 2025, protests by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan followed. After the backlash, a court released Malik on bail.
Both groups warned that the case threatened press freedom. They called for due process and clear rules for regulating digital media.
The renewed social media campaign has again placed Malik under public scrutiny. So far, the FIA and the government have not issued any statement on fresh action.
The episode reflects a wider struggle in Pakistan. It highlights tensions between state authorities, digital media and freedom of expression in a fast-changing media landscape.
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