Seven Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Pakistan, Including Journalists & Former Military Officer, for 'Digital Terrorism'
Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Friday sentenced five journalists, a YouTuber, and a former military officer to life imprisonment. They were all accused of engaging in digital terrorism against state institutions.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra delivered the verdict after the trial concluded. In its ruling, the court stated that the actions of the accused fell under the definition of terrorism under Pakistani law. Most of those sentenced are outside Pakistan and did not appear during the proceedings.
These sentences stem from cases registered after the violent protests on May 9, 2023, when supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan staged widespread demonstrations following his arrest. Protesters set fire to military buildings and damaged government property in several cities, prompting a massive crackdown by authorities.
Those sentenced include former military officer and now YouTuber Adil Raja and Syed Akbar Hussain, journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, and Shaheen Sehbai, commentator Haider Raza Mehdi, and analyst Moeed Pirzada.
Horrific Story of a Palestinian female Journalist, Imprisoned in Israel for over 100 days #Palestine #Gaza #Israel https://t.co/7ev7tYLo5O
— VOiCE OF MEDIA (@voiceofmedia1) November 23, 2025
Cases against Adil Raja, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Shaheen Sehbai, and Haider Mehdi were registered at the Ramna police station in Islamabad, while those against Sabir Shakir, Akbar Hussain, and Moeed Pirzada were registered at the Aabpara police station. They are accused of using online platforms to incite violence and unrest during and after the protests.
In addition to life imprisonment, the court also imposed additional jail sentences and a fine of 500,000 Pakistani rupees on each convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.
The accused have the right to appeal the verdict in the Islamabad High Court within seven days. Twenty-four witnesses were presented during the trial. Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani represented the state, while Advocate Gulfam Ashraf Goraya represented the defense. The court stated that the accused would be arrested by the police as and when they become available.
