Islamabad, April 7 -- A local court in Pakistan on Monday granted bail to journalist Farhan Mallick, who has been in judicial custody related to a case lodged under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) for allegedly disseminating anti-state content, Geo News reported.

The court approved his bail and directed him to submit a surety bond worth Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 100,000. The journalist, who previously worked as the news director of a private TV channel, was initially taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on March 20 for allegedly breaching Peca and involvement in defamation.

In addition to the Peca case, the court also granted bail to Mallick in a case pertaining to his alleged involvement in operating...