Adil Raja, six others handed double life sentences for 'digital terrorism'

ATC imposes 35 years additional imprisonment, Rs1.5m fine as trial conducted in absence of accused

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has handed down double life sentences to YouTuber Adil Raja, former army official Syed Akbar Hussain, and journalists Wajahat Saeed, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai and Haider Mehdi, according to the court order.

The sentences were announced by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra in cases described in the FIRs as “digital terrorism” against state institutions in the context of the events of May 9, 2023. The court also awarded additional sentences totalling 35 years under other sections, along with aggregate fines of Rs1.5 million.

Read: Govt bans YouTuber Adil Raja

The court awarded life imprisonment to Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada and Syed Akbar Hussain in cases registered at Aabpara Police Station, while separate cases registered at Ramna Police Station led to the sentencing of Shaheen Sehbai, Haider Mehdi and Wajahat Saeed.

The prosecution, led by Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani, presented 24 witnesses before the court. On the prosecution’s request, the ATC proceeded with and concluded the trial in the absence of the accused, with Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraya appointed by the court to represent them.

The court noted that, under the Anti-Terrorism Act, proceedings may be conducted in the absence of an accused person subject to legal requirements.