ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has awarded double life imprisonment to YouTuber Adil Raja, former army officer Syed Akbar Hussain, and journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai, and Haider Mehdi in cases linked to what the court described as “digital terrorism” against state institutions during the events of May 9, 2023.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict after the prosecution, led by Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani, presented testimony from 24 witnesses. The trial was conducted in absentia as the accused were not present in court and were represented by state-appointed counsel Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraya.
Under Section 121 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), each convict received a life sentence for waging or abetting war against Pakistan. A second life term was imposed under Section 120-B for criminal conspiracy. Additionally, the court handed down a cumulative 35 years of rigorous imprisonment on multiple counts and imposed fines totaling Rs1.5 million per convict.
Further sentences were awarded under Sections 121-A and 131 of the PPC, as well as Sections 7(i), 11-W, and 21(i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. All sentences will run concurrently.
The convicts retain the right to appeal before the Islamabad High Court within seven days. Authorities have been instructed to arrest the accused, who are currently declared absconders.
