ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Friday handed down two life sentences each to YouTuber Adil Raja, journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir and Shaheen Sehbai, anchorperson Haider Raza Mehdi, analyst Moeed Pirzada and former army official Akbar Hussain in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots.
The verdicts were announced by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra in trials conducted in absentia after the completion of proceedings. The prosecution alleged that the convicted individuals engaged in “digital terrorism against state institutions” by using online platforms to incite, facilitate and amplify violence during protests that erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
According to court orders, Raja, Khan, Sehbai and Mehdi were booked in cases registered at Ramna police station, while Shakir, Pirzada and Hussain were charged in cases registered at Aabpara police station.
The court sentenced the convicts to rigorous life imprisonment on two counts: waging or attempting to wage war against Pakistan and criminal conspiracy. Each was also fined Rs500,000 for the two offences.
Additionally, they were awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs200,000 under Section 121-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which deals with conspiracy to commit offences related to waging war against Pakistan. Another 10-year rigorous imprisonment and Rs200,000 fine was imposed under Section 131 of the PPC for abetting mutiny or attempting to seduce members of the armed forces from duty.
The court further imposed three separate five-year rigorous imprisonment sentences under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, along with fines of Rs200,000 for each count. In case of non-payment of fines, the convicts’ imprisonment would be extended by six months per offence.
The court directed that all sentences would run concurrently and extended the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure, allowing any period of detention to be counted towards the sentence. The convicts were informed of their right to appeal before the Islamabad High Court within seven days.
The court also instructed the relevant station house officers to arrest the convicts upon their availability and commit them to jail to serve their sentences.
During the trial, the prosecution produced 24 witnesses. Public prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani represented the state, while Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraiya, appointed by the court, appeared as defence counsel.
A detailed written judgement is expected to be issued later, outlining the evidentiary and legal basis for the convictions. The cases were registered in 2023 following the May 9 unrest, during which several government and military installations were vandalised.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, had earlier expressed concern over the use of sedition and anti-terrorism laws against journalists and commentators, terming such actions a violation of freedom of expression.
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