Islamabad — A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced seven individuals, including prominent journalists, online commentators, and former military officers, to life imprisonment for their alleged role in inciting violence during the nationwide unrest that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2023.
The verdict was announced on Friday by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra in Islamabad after proceedings were completed in absentia. None of the accused were present in court, as all are believed to be living abroad after leaving Pakistan in recent years.
Those sentenced include former newspaper editor Shaheen Sehbai; journalists Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada; YouTubers Wajahat Saeed Khan and Haider Raza Mehdi; and retired army officers Adil Raja and Akbar Hussain. The court found them guilty of promoting violence and spreading hostility against state institutions.
Background of the Case
The convictions stem from events surrounding the violent protests that erupted on May 9, 2023, after Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption investigation. The demonstrations quickly escalated, with mobs attacking military facilities, setting fire to government buildings, damaging state-owned media offices, and vandalizing the residence of a senior army official.
Prosecutors argued that the seven men, all known supporters of Khan, used their media platforms to provoke unrest and encourage attacks on military and government targets. Authorities claim their messaging fueled public anger during a volatile period marked by widespread unrest.
Khan, who was removed from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, has consistently denied encouraging violence. He has blamed his ouster on alleged interference by Pakistan’s military and foreign actors, claims that have been rejected by the Pakistani armed forces, the United States, and the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Reactions and Rights Concerns
One of the convicted journalists, Sabir Shakir, confirmed from abroad that he was aware of the ruling. Speaking to international media, he described the verdict as politically motivated and said he was not in Pakistan during the riots. Shakir stated that he left the country earlier for religious travel and later sought asylum in the United Kingdom, fearing prosecution upon return.
He also alleged that the trial proceeded without meaningful legal representation and resulted in multiple life sentences being issued without his defense being heard. Other convicted individuals could not be reached for comment.
Under Pakistani law, the defendants have seven days to file appeals. The court has also instructed law enforcement agencies to arrest them immediately should they return to the country.
Broader Implications
The ruling has intensified concerns among press freedom advocates and journalists’ unions, who warn that freedom of expression in Pakistan is under increasing pressure. Media organizations have reported tighter controls and growing risks for journalists critical of powerful institutions.
The government, however, maintains that it supports free speech while insisting that journalists and digital content creators must operate within legal and ethical boundaries.
The case adds to a series of high-profile prosecutions linked to the political fallout from the 2023 unrest, underscoring Pakistan’s ongoing struggle between national security concerns and civil liberties.
