An Islamabad anti-terrorism court on Friday sentenced seven individuals, including journalists, a YouTuber and a former army officer, to two life terms each in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots that erupted after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, says report.
Amid rising political unrest following the elevation of Army Chief Asim Munir, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday sentenced 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 to two life sentences each in cases linked to the May 9, 2023 riots, Dawn reported.
The unrest erupted after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan and led to widespread vandalism of government and military installations across Pakistan.
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According to the report, the prosecution accused the convicted individuals of “digital terrorism against state institutions”, alleging they used online platforms to incite, facilitate and amplify attacks during the May 9 violence.
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Trials conducted in absentia
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the reserved verdicts after the completion of trials conducted in absentia, following a request by the prosecution under relevant provisions of anti-terrorism laws.
As per court orders, cases against Raja, Khan, Sehbai and Mehdi were registered at Islamabad’s Ramna police station, while cases against Shakir, Hussain and Pirzada were lodged at the Aabpara police station.
Details of sentences and fines
The court awarded rigorous life imprisonment on two counts — waging or attempting to wage war against Pakistan and criminal conspiracy — and imposed fines of Rs500,000 for each offence. The convicts were also sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs200,000 under Section 121-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which relates to conspiracy to commit offences punishable under Section 121.
In addition, another 10-year rigorous imprisonment term and a Rs200,000 fine were imposed under Section 131 of the PPC for abetting mutiny. The court further handed down three separate five-year rigorous imprisonment terms under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, along with fines of Rs200,000 for each offence.
The court said failure to pay any fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment. All sentences will run concurrently, and the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure — allowing time spent in detention to be counted — was extended to the convicts.
Each order stated that the convicts have the right to file an appeal before the Islamabad High Court within seven days. Police have been authorised to arrest the individuals upon availability and commit them to jail to serve their sentences.
During the trials, the prosecution presented 24 witnesses. Public prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani represented the state, while Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraiya appeared as defence counsel after being appointed by the court.
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Pending detailed judgement
A detailed written judgement outlining the evidentiary basis and legal reasoning behind the convictions is yet to be issued.
Rights groups raise concerns
The cases were registered in 2023. Shakir, Pirzada and Hussain were booked on charges of sedition and terrorism, while Sehbai, Khan, Raja and Mehdi were charged with abetting mutiny and inciting attacks on military installations.
In June 2023, rights groups Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders raised concerns over the cases, warning that the use of anti-terror and sedition laws against journalists and commentators amounted to a crackdown on freedom of expression.