- Pfuj requires immediate and unconditional release of Mallick.
- The journalist body asks the Govt to brake agencies like the FIA.
- Farhan Mallick arrested in controversial Peca.
Friday, media bodies strongly condemned the arrest of Farhan Mallick by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the controversial law of prevention of electronic crimes (PECA).
The FIA arrested the journalist earlier this week for having pretended to raped the PECA and broadcast “anti-state” content on its YouTube channel. Earlier in the day, a judicial magistrate in Karachi gave the journalist to the survey agency on four -day pre -trial detention.
The controversial law of Peca has been recently modified and the organizations of journalists across the country protested against the law, which is an attempt to gap freedom of expression and to intimidate the newspapers and their media.
In a statement, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) expressed its concern about the arrest of Mallick by FIA. The PFUJ described its arrest as a “blatant attempt” to stifle freedom of expression and to intimidate journalists who dare to criticize those in power.
In a joint declaration, the president of the PFUJ, Afzal Butt and the secretary general Arshad Ansari, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mallick, as well as a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
“It is imperative that the government is reinstated in agencies like the FIA, which have a story of exceeding their authority and to suppress dissident votes,” read the Declaration.
The PFUJ stressed that article 19 of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and it is the government’s duty to maintain this fundamental right.
The management of the PFUJ has urged the authorities to respect the principles of democracy and to protect press freedom, noting that the international community is watching.
Likewise, the association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) also denounced the arrest of Mallick and described the action of FIA as malicious.
In a statement, Aemend said that the contents of the FIR registered against the journalist was vague, unclear and false. The media organization said the FIR was aimed at harassing and removing the voice of the Dissessions.
“We have already clearly indicated that the bill for modifying the PECA would be used against journalists,” the statement read.
The media organization has urged the federal government, the Minister of the Interior and the DG FIA to launch surveys on such cases that distress in the country and to institutions.