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

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 Khan, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai, and Haider Mehdi.

The sentences were announced by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra in cases regarding “digital terrorism” against state institutions during May 9, 2023.

The prosecution, represented by Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani, presented 24 witnesses before the court. On request of the prosecution, the trial was concluded in the absence of the accused, who were represented by court-appointed counsel, Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraya.

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According to the court orders, each accused was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment under Section 121 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which pertains to waging, attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan. Another rigorous life imprisonment was ordered under Section 120-B of the PPC for criminal conspiracy.

In addition to the life terms, the court awarded each convict an additional 35 years’ rigorous imprisonment across five counts, along with a total fine of Rs1.5 million.

These include 10-year sentences under Section 121-A of the PPC for conspiracy to commit offences, punishable by Section 121, and Section 131 of the PPC for abetting mutiny or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor, or airman from duty.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, they were further sentenced to three separate 5-year rigorous imprisonment terms: Section 11-W for printing, publishing, or disseminating material to incite hatred or giving projection to any person convicted for a terrorist act, Section 21(i) for abetment of the offense, and Section 7(i) for acts of terrorism.

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The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently. While the proceedings were concluded in absentia, the convicts retain the right to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court within seven days. All sentences remain subject to final confirmation by the High Court.

Further, the court extended the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure which allows for a period of detention to be considered while awarding a sentence of imprisonment.

The relevant SHOs have been directed to take the convicts, currently considered absconders, into custody.